Sonny Styles stands head and shoulders above the rest at Commanders rookie camp

"Even out on the windblown field, Sonny Styles was impossible to miss, standing a head taller than the other linebackers at Washington Commanders rookie camp Friday. His helmet's gold face mask gleamed in the afternoon sun. When he raised his arms, they seemed to extend high into the sky."

"The Commanders ended last season with their defense badly in need of a new star, and Styles - who stands 6-foot-5, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds, and jumped 3½ feet in the air - promises to be that player. The hype has been bubbling for two weeks now."

"Rookie camps are terrible places for first impressions. Players are quickly fed plays before being thrown onto a field with teammates they barely know. No tackling. No hitting. Cohesion is impossible. Brilliance rarely happens. And yet there was a moment that stood out from Friday's jumble of broken plays and blown coverages."

"A pass was thrown to wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks, in from Louisville, on a tryout. Brooks caught the ball seemingly in the open, nobody around, until he turned and found himself staring at the chest of Styles, who had rumbled from nearly across the field, racing so hard he actually knocked Brooks to the ground, apologetically raising his hands as if to say he had tried to keep from hitting Brooks but couldn't help himself."

Sonny Styles drew immediate attention at Washington Commanders rookie camp, standing taller than other linebackers and catching the eye with his gold helmet mask. The team’s top draft selection is surrounded by strong expectations because Washington’s defense needed a new star. Styles’ measurable athleticism includes a 6-foot-5 frame, a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, and a 3½-foot vertical jump. Rookie camps limit tackling and hitting, making cohesion difficult, yet a notable play occurred when Styles raced across the field to stop Ja’Corey Brooks after a catch. Styles emphasized the need to slow down to avoid contact, reflecting his game-speed pursuit traits valued by the team.

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