Tyleik Williams 2025 NFL Draft Ohio State DT Scouting Report
From Ohio State, we have a talented defensive tackle in Tyleik Williams. In a loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, he is DT who may go in the first few rounds of the draft. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook in this scouting report. We will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Tyleik Williams 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Overall, Williams is a physically imposing interior defender with a well-rounded skill set. This should make him a valuable asset at the next level. A former four-star recruit, he quickly became a key contributor as an Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle. Notably, earning All-Big Ten honors throughout his collegiate career.
Furthermore, Williams possesses a rare blend of size, strength, and surprising agility. This allows him to anchor the defensive front and control the trenches. His ability to shed blocks, maintain his gap responsibilities, and disrupt opposing rushing attacks makes him one of the more reliable run defenders in this draft class. However, while his dominance in stopping the run is evident, his ability to consistently affect the passing game remains a question mark.
With a lack of developed pass-rush moves and inconsistent leverage, his ceiling as an all-around defensive lineman is uncertain. Continue reading as we break down his game in this scouting report.
Strengths
- Elite Run Defender: A force against the ground game, Williams is difficult to move and consistently maintains his positioning. He absorbs contact well and prevents blockers from generating push, making him highly effective in stopping inside runs.
- Powerful Hands & Block Control: Possesses heavy, forceful hands that allow him to engage, control, and disengage from offensive linemen. He is proficient at shedding blocks quickly to free himself and close running lanes quickly.
- Athletic for His Size: Moves surprisingly well for a bigger defender, showing quick feet and solid lateral movement. His agility allows him to work down the line of scrimmage and adjust to different blocking schemes.
- Upper-Body Strength: Has the raw power to shock blockers upon contact, reset the line of scrimmage, and create disruption. His ability to generate force through his hands makes him effective at controlling engagements.
- Positional Flexibility: Has experience playing across multiple spots on the defensive front, lining up anywhere from nose tackle to a 4i. His blend of power and mobility allows him to fit into various defensive schemes.
- High Effort & Hustle: Plays with a relentless motor, consistently fighting through contact and chasing plays beyond his initial area of responsibility. His pursuit effort makes him an asset in stopping plays that develop away from his alignment.
- Physical Bull Rusher: When fully engaging his lower body, he can walk back offensive linemen and collapse the pocket.
- Instinctive in Pass Defense: He has a good sense of when to get his hands up to disrupt passing lanes, adding value even when he’s not reaching the quarterback.
- Explosiveness: He has a solid get-off and burst, with a quick initial step at an impressive level for an interior player of his size.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent Hand Technique: While he has powerful hands, his placement and timing can be erratic, preventing him from fully capitalizing on his natural strength.
- Leverage: He tends to rise too high when engaging, causing him to lose leverage, making it easier for offensive linemen to gain control and neutralize his impact.
- Slow off the Line: He can be slow out of his stance, occasionally false-stepping or hesitating at the snap. This delay reduces his effectiveness in pass-rushing situations and limits his ability to generate immediate penetration.
- Shorter Arms: His arm length is less than ideal for interior defenders, affecting his ability to keep blockers at a distance and can cause problems trying to shed them. This could present more challenges at the next level against longer-armed offensive linemen.
- Lacks Flexibility: He can struggle to bend and turn the corner when attacking the pocket. His hip stiffness limits his ability to win using finesse.
- Recognition: He can be caught off guard against certain blocking schemes, particularly on combo blocks or down blocks, where he sometimes fails to anticipate and gets washed out of his gap.
- Declined Pass Rush Production: He struggled to generate consistent pressure, with declining sack numbers throughout his career. His impact in this area is below his dominance against the run.
- Underutilized Pass Rush: He was often asked to maintain his rush lane rather than aggressively attack gaps, limiting his chances to showcase more developed pass-rush skills.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Williams enters the NFL as a high-floor prospect with a clear strength in run defense. However, his long-term value will depend on his ability to grow as a pass rusher. While he has the raw power and physical tools to develop in that area, his lack of production in college raises concerns about whether he will ever be a true three-down force. That being said, his ability to clog running lanes, take on double teams, and control the interior will make him an appealing option for teams looking to bolster their defensive front.
All things considered, Williams is someone who may be selected early on Day Two. He should immediately contribute as a run-stopping presence, potentially carving out a more expanded role if he refines his technique and pass-rush repertoire at the next level. In the end, this could be appealing to teams at the back of Round One of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Round Grade: 3rd Round
Tyleik Williams College Stats – Ohio State
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | FR | Yds |
| 2021* | Ohio State | 12 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022* | Ohio State | 13 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023* | Ohio State | 13 | 20 | 33 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024* | Ohio State | 13 | 16 | 30 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 51 | 56 | 80 | 28 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
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