Tyleik Williams Scouting Report | 2025 NFL Draft
NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Ohio State at Notre Dame
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) is tackled by Ohio State Buckeyes safety Sonny Styles (6) and Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (91) in the second half in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Tyleik Williams, Ohio State’s anchor along the defensive line, could be a first-round choice on April 24 when the NFL draft will take place in Green Bay.
General: Tyleik Williams
The interior defender out of Virginia missed the final year of his high school career due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has done enough to be a highly-touted lineman in his recruiting class. Coming out of high school, Williams was a four-star recruit and could pick his next destination.
Jan 18, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (91) talks to the media during 2025 CFP National Championship Media Day at Georgia World Congress Center, Building A. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
He played in 51 games with the Buckeyes, including massive postseason, rivalry, and bowl games after immediately entering the defensive line rotation in his freshman year.
He has 136 tackles on his resume throughout his college career, as well as 11.5 sacks and a fumble recovery touchdown. Williams is a massive human being at about 6-3 and 330 lbs and will be 22 years old at the draft.
Positives
- His upper-body strength matches his size
- Explosive first step
- Outstanding at controlling blocks; is rarely out of balance
- Has a knack for finding running backs
- Enough quickness to get to the edge on stretch plays
- Excellent football IQ; often calling plays on the defensive line
- Great timing at batting passes
- Can play 1-, 3-, and 5-tech
Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Cody Simon (0) and defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (91) and Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (26) in action during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Weaknesses
- Inconsistency is a real issue
- Needs to play with a lower pad level
- Relatively short arms
- Can be moved off his spot by double teams
- Pass rush effort and hand usage need a lot of work
- Doesn’t push the pocket in the passing game as well as his strength suggests
Bottom Line
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (91) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Williams is an intriguing player because of his size and strength combined with exciting athleticism and movement skills. He will be a force in the running game from day one, but he needs time to develop into a pass-rush threat at the next level. The good news is that he has the physical tools to improve in that area. He is a high-floor player, and it’s hard to see a team end up disappointed down the road because he will be, at the very least, a capable run defender.
His football IQ is a sneaky benefit of his game. He functioned as the leader of the defensive line, helping his teammates get lined up and adjusting the play if necessary.
The short arms could become a problem in the NFL because the professional guards and centers know how to use it against him, which is why his hand placement needs to be a point of emphasis early in his career.
Projection: Late first-rounder
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who was drawn to the sport by Adrian Peterson’s excellence. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and has an affinity for Classic rock. His active Twitter page can be found here. His work can be found on PurplePTSD, VikingsTerritory, and DraftHuddle.
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