INDIANAPOLIS — Every few decades, there comes along a player —a once-in-a-generation type of product— that defines the position. A guy who sets the barometer for those who come behind him as to how far their dreams can climb.

Six years after his retirement, but on the heels of his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, Luke Kuechly is still that guy.

As linebackers in the 2026 NFL draft class filtered through the Indiana Convention Center early Wednesday morning, Kuechly's name continued to float out of the speakers. When top linebacker prospect Sonny Styles was asked which NFL players he admired the most, he listed Fred Warner, who is the NFL comparison he's received a lot this draft. Then he turned to Kuechly.

"Another one in the past I always admired was Luke Kuechly," Styles shared. "Similar frame. He's about 6'3, 245 as well, super good athlete, and I think he was such a good athlete that—I mean, he was so smart that people forgot he was such a great athlete, and that's kind of what I want for myself.

"I think I'm a great athlete, but I want my intelligence, my football intelligence to take out more than my athleticism."

Styles has spent the past four years proving himself at Ohio State as a disciplined, smart linebacker, in the same way as his fellow Ohio native, Kuechly. Styles had 183 tackles in his two seasons as a linebacker with the Buckeyes, 7.0 sacks during that same time, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, eight passes defensed, and an interception.

If his college career is any indication, his NFL career could be special. And if following the Luke Kuechly example has worked thus far, Styles can't help but admit the hope of doing the same is tantalizing.

"It's not easy, but you know, I think the way he played the game, like when you watch videos of him calling out plays, he spent so much time studying the game. So that's something I plan on doing as well," said Styles. "I want to get to that level, and as you said, Luke got in the Hall of Fame. It's going to take a lot of work to get there, but just got to start one step at a time."

Styles wasn't the only linebacker impacted by Luke Kuechly.

Wade Woodaz from Clemson connected with the All-Pro linebacker last offseason through mutual representation.

"And now you know I text (Luke) pretty often," Woodaz said. "Actually, he's become a pretty good mentor for me. I met with him in the summer prior to this past season and then we stay in touch. I talked to him last week, actually, prior to coming here."

As Styles and so many others have mentioned, Kuechly's mental game was unmatched. He helped Woodaz understand how he watched film, and the Clemson linebacker saw his entire game change.

"I kind of stole his process of watching tape and how he breaks the team down," Woodaz explained. "I had a process before, but the way he laid it out and the way he goes about it is pretty special. So I try to model something, do something similar."

Rueben Bain addresses wingspan

The NFL draft process puts every part of a guy's life under a microscope. His play on the field, how he handles himself off the field, his body type; it's all up for intense evaluation.

So despite Rueben Bain's 9.5 sacks in 2025 for the Miami Hurricanes, his forced fumble and interception, and general prowess that antagonized quarterbacks all season, the primary topic of discussion when Bain took the podium on Wednesday morning was his arm length.

"I really don't give the kind of time of day for it. That's just all stuff I feel like you see on social media," preached Bain, brushing off the notion that his wingspan, whatever it may be, is too short for the NFL. "None of the teams seem to be too concerned with it.

"I didn't hear it till like later in the year, but it kind of surprised me because I never heard it all my life."

An average person's wingspan is around two inches taller than their height. Bain is listed at 6-3. The NFL will release player measurements, such as arm length and wingspan, throughout combine week. And while teams haven't been raising the topic in meetings thus far, it is the most surprising part of the week to arise for the Miami lineman.

"Probably that arm length stuff you keep bringing up," joked Bain when asked what had surprised him about the combine. "That came up out of nowhere, but no teams, like I said, no teams really brought it up to me, so I don't bring it up.

"As long as I just talk the talk and walk the walk, play a technique, nobody really asks me about it."

That approach is usually what outlasts any combine measureables. Rueben Bain's tape highlights someone who can wreck a game, and that's what he wants teams to see.

"I eat, sleep, and breathe football, that's all I do," promised Bain. "I don't have no other hobbies, no other real interests outside of football. That's all I care for. That's all I want to do."

Caleb Banks happy with his decision to return

Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks could have called it quits after his foot snapped during fall camp, compounding an injury he originally suffered during spring practices. He definitely would have been justified in hanging up his helmet when he returned to the field in Week 3, only to re-aggravate the foot and require surgery that was classified as season-ending.

"It's kind of hard, you know, a lot of people told me that it probably wasn't going to be possible for me to come back," Banks admitted, sharing on Wednesday why it was important to not listen to those messages.

"But you know, I talked to my mom, she helped me through a lot. I talked to God. My mom told me my story is already written, and I knew I was going to go back and participate in games."

So Banks, despite Florida's sliding record as the season wore on and the imminent firing of his head coach, was determined to step on the field with his teammates one last time on his own terms. So he made it back for the Gators' final two games of the season. He picked up six tackles in those two games, and recovered a fumble in Florida's finale, a win against their arch rival, FSU.

"I want to play with my brothers. I want to finish hard with my teammates, no matter the circumstances of the season or if we had a head coach or not, I mean, I wanted to go play football."

A nickname he couldn't refuse

"Do you have the best nickname in the draft this year?"

"Oh, without a doubt," quipped Dontay Corleone without hesitation.

The Cincinnati defensive lineman is known amongst his teammates as "The Godfather," a nod to the last name he shares with iconic character Vito Corleone.

"I think when I was an incoming freshman, somebody said it, but I really didn't like (understand) until a couple of years ago," admitted Corleone. Fair, considering he was born 30 years after the first movie was released.

"I finally watched, and I see what they're talking about, but yeah, I like the nickname."

It's the kind of anecdote Corleone feels comfortable sharing about himself now. After the 2023 season, in which he had 39 tackles and 3.0 sacks along with a forced fumble from his defensive tackle position, there was talk about the Cincinnati native entering the draft. But he wasn't ready. On the field, he felt fine, but Corleone knew he wasn't ready off the field.

"I'm an introvert, but I had to grow out of that stuff and be able to talk in front of you guys. I think a Browns scout asked me in Dallas (at the East-West Shrine game) why I didn't leave in 2023," he shared. "I'm like, I don't know if I'm going to really talk to you guys because I'm not really comfortable talking.

"So just taking them five years to know who I am and find my identity instead of just rushing and just learn from the mistakes I did as a young guy."