Ohio State Defensive Tackle Tyleik Williams Makes Splash Plays

I studied every snap Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams played in during the 2023 season, and the more I watched him, the more he grew on me.

There’s no question ⎯Williams makes some splash plays. He’s not just another pretty face in the trenches that can stop the run. Last season, this interior defensive lineman, who’s built like a brick wall, tipped five passes. He logged three sacks and added a fumble recovery. He also added 22 pressures on 333 snaps.

Williams has some difference maker to him, and I like him as a prospect, but at the right value. The first round is reserved for those who move the meter. Adding underachieving to the recipe is the kiss of death when it comes to team chemistry. No doubt, Williams flashes first-round ability, which will draw teams in. There’s also the strong possibility he will likely crush his pre-draft workouts. All that is great, but it comes down to what the prospect puts on tape and how that translates to the NFL.

Intoxicating brute strength

This is Williams’ best attribute.

He seems to love playing bumper cars with the big boys in the trenches, and he’s practically immovable and when he feels like it, he can jolt an offensive lineman like he’s hitting him with a stun gun.

That’s the kind of pure power we’re talking about.

It’s the kind of strength that draws consistent double teams in pass-and-run situations. It’s hard not to fall in love with that kind of raw power.

Williams is a limited-area run defender

This is where Williams really excels.

He uses his hands well and holds his ground even better. Any running back who dares to run through his lanes stands a good chance of getting rocked by Williams. He’s a hard and technically solid wrapping tackler who tackles people like he means it.

Even though NFL teams tend to pass more than they run (32/32 teams did in 2023), run defense is more of a forgotten, but still a very important part of the game. Even when he’s not making the stop, he clogs up the area like a big boulder in a creek.

Last season, Williams logged 53 tackles (20 solo).

Endurance

This is also an impressive part of Williams’ game to me and it’s a benefit of watching all of his plays. He was in there a lot.

Williams never looked like he was out of shape or gasping for air.

He isn’t a ‘rotational’ defensive tackle that comes in the game for special occasions. This guy is a solid starting three-down defensive tackle prospect. He played on run defense in an additional 311 snaps (Pro Football Focus) for a total of 645 snaps in 2023.

I’m on the fence with Williams

I refuse to talk myself into prospects.

Scouting is all about identifying patterns and tendencies of performance and behavior over a sustained period of time. That’s why I take a few days to grade all of these top-rated prospects. The underachieving is a glaring pattern and tendency.

Underachieving is my biggest pet peeve as an evaluator.

I still really like him, but he’s got to hit the gas in 2024 to move up my board.

#91 Tyleik Williams 6-foot-3, 327 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Fall Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 47.9% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of October 4, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film evaluated: Indiana, Youngstown State, Western Kentucky, Notre Dame, Maryland, Purdue, Penn State, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Michigan State, Minnesota, Michigan, and Missouri (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Thick and muscular athletic defensive tackle with equally distributed power. Top heavy. Inconsistent. Alternates at the two interior spots. Lacks explosiveness in his hips at the point of attack. Stands up out of his stance like he’s getting out of a chair. Tremendous upper and lower body strength. Flashes explosive strength. Can extend and lock out. Vanilla pass rusher. Flashes spin or swim moves. Bull rusher. Can have a hard time getting going on stunts. Movements are somewhat rigid. A knack for making plays. Solid run defender. Can lose track of where the ball is at times. Inconsistent shedding blocks. Ends up by the pile a fair amount. Plays with emotion.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season

1. Motor?

2. Pass rush moves?

3. Shedding run blocks consistently?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.