Freshman safety Sonny Styles sheds black stripe for Buckeyes
COLUMBUS — Sonny Styles started his Ohio State career earlier than expected.
The freshman safety who reclassified into the class of 2022 is already impressing for the Buckeyes ahead of their season-opening matchup against Notre Dame.
Styles reached a major freshman milestone Tuesday, shedding his black stripe, which means he is officially with the Ohio State football program and beyond the ceremonial stripe removal from his helmet.
The former five-star prospect who was originally in the 2023 class is turning heads and making plays during his first few months at Ohio State. And now he has shed his black stripe just four days before he is set to face off against his brother, Notre Dame second-year wide receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr.
The younger brother, Sonny Styles is impressive so far.
“For somebody who is supposed to be in high school right now, he’s doing darn good,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said earlier this month during training camp. “It’s hard when you come in the summer and you’re supposed to be working with your high school teammates, and you’re here at Ohio State, battling at practice. In the opportunities he’s had to compete, he’s showing that he’s got toughness. He’s getting coached pretty hard, and he takes it.
“He works to get better, he’s got a great look in his eye and he’s off to a wonderful start.”
Sonny Styles is getting better, and that was proven by his black stripe removal. He is the latest Ohio State freshman to reach that milestone.
Sonny Styles joins other Ohio State freshmen to lose black stripes this preseason
Wide receiver Kaleb Brown, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, cornerback Jyaire Brown, linebacker C.J. Hicks, tailback Dallan Hayden and wide receiver Kyion Grayes were all freshmen who shed their stripe during camp.
Defensive end Caden Curry and safety Kye Stokes lost their black stripes during spring practice.
Now Sonny Styles is the latest freshman to shed his.
