Tyleik Williams, IDL, Ohio State
Size:
Height: 6027
Weight: 334
Arm: 32”
Hand: 10 ¼”
Accomplishments:
Second-Team All-Big Ten (2023) • All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2022, 2021)
“Tyleik Williams is a disruptive IDL prospect with great power at the point of attack. He’s a great run defender and potential impact pocket pusher.”
Strengths:
Quick first step
Body control and contact balance to handle double teams
Athletic/range at line of scrimmage
Block shedding
Concerns:
Raw/developing pass rusher
Can get knocked off line of scrimmage in run game
Operates in flashes
Inconsistent pad-level and leveraging rushing the passer and in run game
Film Analysis:
Tyleik Williams was an important piece for the National Champion Ohio State Buckeye defense, delivering great performances throughout the playoffs. Williams has been a force for Ryan Day’s defensive line for consecutive years, disrupting both the run game and passing attacks. He anchored a talented defensive line for the Buckeyes, contributing significantly to their stout run defense. Williams resets the line of scrimmage against the run as well as anyone in college football. There is developmental upside for Williams to not only be a run stopper but also a pass rusher.
Body control, point-of-attack power/strength, and heavy hands are keys to Williams’ exceptional run defense. He fires off powerful punches to jolt/shock blockers quickly, and his leg drive creates a strong surge, opening a pathway to the backfield. His awareness and football IQ are excellent. Williams understands how to stack, peek, locate the football, and shed blocks to make plays on the ball-carrier. He possesses good overall strength that aids his body control and contact balance, allowing him to handle duo/double-team blocks. Williams resets the line of scrimmage well and clogs exit paths from the backfield. His ability to be a two-gapping run stopper, clogging lanes and commanding double teams, allows his linebackers to stay free and make plays without worrying about interior offensive linemen climbing upfield.
As a pass rusher, Williams has good knock-back power to push the pocket and create pressure in the face of the quarterback. He rushes with a strong motor and a high activity rate.
Improvements for Williams begin with his tendency to rush the passer with a high pad level. I would like to see him stay in the drive phase longer to make contact for better leverage, allowing him to deploy his powerful counter maneuvers like push/pull, bull rush, and push/long-arm-over combo. Williams is still raw and developing his pass-rush plan. He also needs to improve his consistency along the line of scrimmage. There are times when Williams is moved off the line of scrimmage and struggles to disengage from blockers. His presence along the line of scrimmage and in the run game can be inconsistent.
Williams projects as a starting interior defensive lineman who can play multiple positions. He can line up at the 1, 2i, 3, and 4i positions. He will add power and near-elite run defense to an NFL defensive front. Williams has untapped potential as a pass rusher and offers three-down upside as a prospect.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Exposures: Oregon (2024), Michigan (2024), Notre Dame (2024), Texas (2024), Michigan (2023), Penn State (2023), Wisconsin (2023), Notre Dame (2023)
