Draft Stock Soaring: Are Sonny Styles and Omar Cooper Jr. the Biggest Winners of the 2026 NFL Combine?

As the dust settles on the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the national conversation has shifted from theoretical potential to undeniable physical dominance. Analysts across the board are highlighting a select group of prospects whose performances have fundamentally altered their draft trajectories. Chief among those rising on big boards are Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., both of whom turned the drills at Lucas Oil Stadium into a showcase of elite athleticism. According to prominent voices in the sport, these two prospects are currently skyrocketing toward the upper echelons of the first round after proving their collegiate production was no fluke.

Sonny Styles, a 6-foot-5, 244-pound force for the Buckeyes, delivered what many are calling the most impressive defensive workout of the last decade. Styles became the first player over 230 pounds to run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash (4.46) while simultaneously recording a vertical leap of 43.5 inches and a broad jump of 11 feet, 2 inches. These numbers are virtually unprecedented for a player of his size and reinforce the versatility he displayed throughout his career in Columbus. Having transitioned from safety to linebacker, Styles was the heartbeat of a Buckeyes defense that finished the 2025 season ranked first in the nation in scoring defense, allowing a stingy 9.3 points per game.

Despite the Buckeyes' disappointing end to the 2025 campaign—a 24-14 loss to Miami in the Cotton Bowl following a loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship—Styles' individual stock has never been higher. Over his two seasons as a starting linebacker, he recorded a staggering 182 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks. Scouts have praised his "scary" potential, noting that he is still learning the nuances of the position while already possessing the physical traits to mirror elite tight ends and shut down perimeter run games. Many now believe he is a lock for the top 10, with some mock drafts placing him as high as the top 5.

Across the state, Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. is reaping the rewards of a historic 16-0 National Championship season. Cooper, who declared for the draft as a redshirt junior, was the primary target for projected number-one overall pick Fernando Mendoza during the Hoosiers' undefeated run. Cooper's Combine performance solidified his status as a Day 1 or early Day 2 selection, showcasing the same explosive release and strong hands that helped him haul in 69 catches for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025. His role in Indiana's 27-21 title win over Miami was the final stamp on a career defined by reliability and high-point catching ability.

The 2025 Indiana season remains one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history, and Cooper was at the center of that evolution. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers led the nation with 666 total points scored, averaging 41.6 points per game. Cooper’s ability to work all three levels of the field and his physical blocking on the perimeter have made him a favorite among scouts looking for a pro-ready wideout. As the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh approaches, both Styles and Cooper have successfully transitioned from college stars to elite professional prospects, leaving the scouting community in awe of their soaring ceilings.