Ohio
‘He’s the leader of the entire team.’ Ohio State football’s Styles eager for senior year
A year ago, Sonny Styles was the newcomer in Ohio State’s front six on defense.
Now he’s the only returning starter.
Styles could have followed the entire defensive line and linebacker Cody Simon to the NFL. But like those players did in 2024, Styles chose to return for his senior year.
“I just didn’t feel like I was ready to go yet,” he said Thursday after Ohio State’s sixth spring practice. “I feel like I didn’t reach my ceiling to where I wanted to be in terms of college. Obviously, when you leave here, you want to keep getting better, but I feel like I had more to do here.”
Styles will be a senior, but he’s still only 20 years old. He was supposed to be in OSU’s 2023 recruiting class until he decided to reclassify to the ’22 class. Because of his physical and mental maturity, it proved to be the right move.
Styles started at safety as a sophomore before moving to linebacker last year. He was instrumental in OSU’s run to the national championship. Styles was second on the team behind Cody Simon with 100 tackles, including 10 ½ for losses and six sacks, in OSU’s two-linebacker scheme.
With only safety Caleb Downs and cornerback Davison Igbinosun returning as starters, Styles is ready to lead.
“I think he’s the leader of the entire team,” linebackers coach James Laurinaitis said. “He handled himself really well through the entire winter workout period and all that.”
Told of Laurinaitis’ comment, Styles said, “I appreciate him saying that. I think we’ve got a lot of leaders on this team. I just try to carry myself the right way (by) the way I was raised and I’m just trying to instill some of those values in the younger guys. It’s easy to be a leader on this team. We’ve got so many great people.”
Styles, along with offensive lineman Austin Siereveld and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, earned Iron Buckeye status for their offseason conditioning work.
“The longer you’re here, the more you understand the importance of those kind of things,” Styles said. “What Iron Buckeye means is being able to bring your ‘A’ game each and every day despite how you may be feeling outside of this building, and being able to be the guy that someone can look at like, ‘Hey, he’s doing it the right way.’
“It’s not only just you can lift heavy or I can run fast. It’s your character. I’m showing up on time every day. I’m bringing energy every day. I have enthusiasm, I’m excited to be here. I’m pouring into others. I really appreciate that honor.”
Styles seems a lock to be named a captain this summer and it wouldn’t shock anyone if he’s named the “Block O” recipient.
“He’s a vocal guy, and it shows up on the field, too,” said linebacker Arvell Reese, who’s expected to start alongside Styles. “It’s hard to follow after a guy who says something and he’s not on their stuff. Sonny is one of those guys who’s on his stuff, so when he leads, everybody’s listening.”
Styles has filled out to 235 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame. As to be expected, he’s also more comfortable as a linebacker.
“I feel like I’ve been playing the position for longer than a year, so that’s a good thing,” Styles said.
Buy Ohio State posters, books, gear from CFP title win
Styles cherishes being part of last year’s national championship team, but he, like the other Buckeyes, is ready to turn the page.
“You have to rebuild from step one,” he said. “We won the national championship last year and we can hold onto that forever, but we’ve got to create our own story and start from ground zero.
“I think we have something to prove. We’ve got a little chip on our shoulder.”
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Ohio State football beat writer Bill Rabinowitz can be reached at brabinowitz@dispatch.com or on Bluesky at @billrabinowitz.bsky.social.
Another state is jumping into the fray to put the brakes on non-domiciled CDLs, with roughly 5,000 commercial drivers in Ohio facing the potential of having their licenses downgraded.
On Friday, May 29, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced it would be contacting approximately 5,000 non-domiciled CDL holders to verify the status of their credentials under updated rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
According to the Bureau, non-domiciled license holders in the state will receive one of two notices, depending on the type of documentation they initially used to obtain their CDL.
For drivers whose documentation meets current FMCSA standards, their licenses will remain valid until their expiration date. For those who do not meet current standards, the process is a bit more complicated.
As for CDL holders whose original documents do not meet current FMCSA guidelines, they will receive a notice of downgrade, and their CDLs will be downgraded to a Class D license 30 days after receiving the notice.
Drivers who receive a downgrade notice can request a hearing with the BMV to dispute the downgrade, and can provide additional documentation to prove their eligibility. According to the Bureau, those documents include:
- An unexpired Employment Authorization Document issued by USCIS, valid on the most recent CDL/CLP issuance date
- An unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired USCIS I‑94 form, both of which must be valid on your most recent CDL/CLP issuance date
Officials said the Ohio BMV has not issued or renewed any non-domiciled CDLs since FMCSA put new standards in place in 2025, and that it does not intend to resume issuing non-domiciled CDLs in the future. Additionally, the BMV will not renew revalidated non-domiciled CDLs after they expire.
All notices will be sent by mail to the address listed on file with the Ohio BMV. The Bureau emphasized that the reverification process does not apply to full CDL holders or CDL holders with legally established permanent residence. LL
2026 U20 World Team Trials
At Geneva, Ohio, May 29
Best-of-Three Final Results
57 kg
Isaiah Cortez (Spartan Combat RTC/ TMWC) defeats Grey Burnett (Burnett Trained Wrestling), two matches to none
Round 1 – Cortez dec. Burnett, 5-1
Round 2 – Cortez tech. fall Burnett, 10-0
61 kg
Aaron Seidel (SERTC- TMWC) defeats Elijah Cortez (Spartan Combat RTC/ TMWC), two matches to none
Round 1 – Seidel tech. fall Cortez, 10-0
Round 2 – Seidel tech. fall Cortez, 10-0
65 kg
Bo Bassett (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) defeats Clinton Shepherd (Howe Wrestling School, LLC), two matches to none
Round 1 – Bassett fall Shepherd, 2:40
Round 2 – Bassett tech. fall Shepherd, 10-0
70 kg
Landon Robideau (Cowboy RTC) defeats Melvin Miller (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), two matches to none
Round 1 – Robideau dec. Miller, 5-0
Round 2 – Robideau tech. fall, 12-0
74 kg
Jayden James (KD Training Center/ TMWC) defeats Ladarion Lockett (Cowboy RTC), two matches to none
Round 1 – James dec. Lockett, 5-4
Round 2 – James dec. Lockett, 4-2
79 kg
Ryan Burton (SERTC- TMWC) defeats Joseph Jeter (Position Wrestling), two matches to none
Round 1 – Burton dec. Jeter, 10-7
Round 2 – Burton dec. Jeter, 8-1
86 kg
Aeoden Sinclair (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) defeats Brock Mantanona (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club), two matches to none
Round 1 – Sinclair dec. Mantanona, 6-0
Round 2 – Sinclair tech. fall Mantanona, 10-0
92 kg
Jimmy Mastny (Relentless Training Center) defeats Karson Tompkins (Air Force Regional Training Center), two matches to none
Round 1 – Mastny fall Tompkins, 3:31
Round 2 – Mastny tech. fall Tompkins, 10-0
97 kg
Michael Boyle (Ohio Crazy Goats Wrestling Club) defeats Garett Kawczynski (Askren Wrestling Academy), two matches to none
Round 1 – Boyle tech. fall Kawczynski, 10-0
Round 2 – Boyle tech. fall Kawczynski, 10-0
125 kg
Dreshaun Ross (Cowboy RTC) defeats Coby Merrill (NYAC), two matches to one
Round 1 – Merrill tech. fall Ross, 11-0
Round 2 – Ross dec. Merrill 9-2
Round 3 – Ross dec. Merrill, 7-1
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A Central Ohio family has filed a lawsuit against a Hilliard funeral home after their mother was accidentally cremated, despite plans for her to be buried.
According to court documents, Tidd Funeral Home cremated Nancy Anders in June of last year against the family’s wishes. The lawsuit states Anders died a week earlier in May.
The family says Anders had planned and prepaid for funeral arrangements two years before her death to be buried with her late husband. The arrangements did not include cremation because, the family says, she did not believe in the concept.
The lawsuit says the family was told a week after her death that she had been accidentally cremated. It also accuses Tidd Funeral Home of cremating her even though the proper authorization form was never signed.
The family says they have suffered physical illness and emotional trauma and are seeking $25,000 in damages. They are also asking for the case to be decided by a jury.
ABC 6 reached out to the funeral home for comment but had not heard back.
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