A dominant force on the interior defensive for the National Championship-winning Ohio State Buckeyes, Tyleik Williams finally turns his attention to the NFL Draft. Initially as a four-star recruit out of Virginia, Williams was considered a player with “day three potential.” After a pair of solid seasons, a national title, and a strong Scouting Combine performance, he has some NFL Draft scouts considering him for much higher draft capital.
2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tyleik Williams
Tyleik Williams NFL Draft Overview
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 334 pounds
Arm: 32″
Hands” 10 1/4″
RAS: TBD
School: Ohio State
Background
From the jump, Williams earned playing time in the Ohio State defensive rotation. As a true freshman in 2021, he appeared in every game and logged 183 defensive snaps. He totaled 16 tackles, six-and-a-half tackles for loss, five sacks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. In the following season, he was featured even more. After appearing in all 13 games, Williams contributed 253 snaps, the fourth-most among defensive tackles. He took a step back with his production in 2021, and there were concerns about his work ethic.
However, Williams turned it up in 2023. With 642 defensive snaps, the defensive tackle led his positional group and was the fourth-most on the Buckeye defense. He finished the year with 53 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass breakups, and scored on a fumble in the win over Western Kentucky. Despite potentially working his way into the first round of the 20024 draft, Williams was among the group who came back for one last shot at a title.
As a senior, Williams continued his top-tier play. Despite missing three games, Williams played the second-most snaps of the Buckeye defensive tackles with 583. He finished his final season with 46 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two-and-a-half sacks, and a pass breakup.
Strengths
- Great first step off the snap
- Has the power to knock centers back to disrupt the play
- Incredibly athletic and fluid, considering size
- Elite run defender, can find the ball carrier, and can work laterally
- Plays with a visible nastiness and aggressiveness
- Not the best pass rusher, but he can collapse the pocket with sheer strength, giving way to teammates
Weaknesses
- Length is a concern
- Has a tendency to stand too tall and lose leverage
- Consistency is needed; some plays, he looked elite, other plays, he looked completely outmatched
- Overall needs to develop as a pass rusher
- Had conditioning concerns early
Best Team Fits: Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets
Round Projection: Late First/Early Second
Bottom Line on Tyleik Williams
There were some games over the last few Ohio State seasons where an entire drive was destroyed by number 91. He is an elite run defender with the strength to be able to contribute right away this fall. That strength, paired with a quick get-off off the snap, gives Williams the opportunity to disrupt the offense before the quarterback can read the defense.
The only downside to his game is his pass rush. He has the natural athleticism to succeed, but he will need to develop and refine his pass-rush moves. On one hand, a bull rush from the interior could be enough for some. On the other, against competent guards, Williams could get washed out.
At 334 pounds, Williams moved incredibly smoothly and jumped off the field at the combine. He showed off his agility and wowed with his punch during bag drills. In the NFL, he has the tools to be an immediate three-down player at defensive tackle. NFL.com‘s prospect grader has him as an eventual plus-starter. If he lands in a situation with a top defensive line coach, he could develop into a consistent Pro Bowl player.
Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
