2023 ATH Sonny Styles Excited for Notre Dame Offer & Return to Football
The nation was supposed to know about 2023 Pickerington Central (Ohio) athlete Sonny Styles last fall.
A leg injury kept the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder from making his high school debut, but Styles made up for it on Sunday as he blocked a punt, scored a touchdown and picked off a pass.
Styles entered the game with one offer from Indiana, but 48 hours later, the Ohio native picked up offers from Ohio State, Toledo and then Notre Dame offered on Tuesday night.
"It was actually Coach (Del) Alexander," Styles said of who offered him. "He already has a close relationship with my brother, so he was the one I ended up talking to.
"He said he already knew my background and where I come from. He knows I have good character. He was really impressed with my game on Sunday."
Sunday's performance might not have surprised those who knew Styles prior to the game, but it was a justification for the Buckeyes and Irish to go ahead and offer.
"I don't think too many people were surprised, but I think people were satisfied with the performance," stated Styles. "I think people expected a lot from me and I guess I lived up to the hype."
In March, his brother, Lorenzo, hinted this was coming and it appears people were paying attention.
"I'll never let him - he's the better athlete," Styles said when asked who was the better athlete. "He's been training so much. Physically, he's more gifted than I am, so training with me and keeping up with me has allowed him to develop a skill set of a smaller guy. I feel he's going to be great at the level because of his size and athleticism."
Styles would likely be the first to tell you he was pleased with his performance, but it goes much deeper than that. The better feeling was simply returning to the field.
"It just felt so good to get back out there," said Styles. "I wasn't even thinking about offers. I was just ready to play because it had been so long. I wanted to help my team win and start the season off right by beating our rival."
The Styles brothers playing together in the secondary will give defenses fits in 2020, but it's also time they will cherish for the rest of their lives.
"I think the last time we played together might have been in fourth grade," stated Styles. "I used to play up with him. It was great to play alongside with my brother.
"It's his senior year, so I'm going to try to help him win as many ball games as I can so he can go out right."
On the recruiting front, Styles might play safety now, but his future could be a little closer to the line of scrimmage as he grows into his frame.
Notre Dame calls it the Rover position, but Styles knows his future is likely at outside backer or a hybrid position like Rover.
"That's what most coaches see me as - more of an outside linebacker or a hybrid role where I can play multiple positions on the field," Styles explained. "I think the best part of my game is probably how I can play multiple positions. I think that's what separates me from other players."
Styles also knows people will lean towards two schools in his recruitment. Ohio State is where his father had a great career and Lorenzo will be playing for the Fighting Irish.
The Styles family never pushed Lorenzo to a school and it will be the same in this recruitment, but Styles does expect a small push from his brother to get him to Notre Dame.
"Of course he is going to want me to come play with him at Notre Dame," laughed Styles. "If I decided not to, he would be happy wherever I go.
"I want to find a school with good academics as that's the most important thing. I haven't really thought about it too much, but academics is definitely important. I don't want to be one of those players who doesn't care about their academics."