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.
HT: 6027
WT: 334
HAND: 1028
ARM: 3358
40: 4.95
Strengths
- Explosive Power: Williams fires off the snap with a rare combination of quickness and force for a 334-pound lineman. His initial burst allows him to disrupt plays in the backfield before blockers can fully engage.
- Run Defense Dominance: A brick wall against the run, Williams uses his low center of gravity, thick lower half, and strong hands to stack and shed blockers. He consistently resets the line of scrimmage and holds ground against double teams.
- Versatility: Aligned everywhere from 0-technique (nose tackle) to 5-technique (outside the tackle), showcasing adaptability across odd and even fronts. His 2024 snap distribution reflects this flexibility (212 RDT, 191 LDT, 102 LDE, 55 RDE).
- Hand Usage: Active and violent hands allow him to disengage from blockers with swipes, rips, and chops. He’s adept at batting passes at the line (10 career deflections).
- Athleticism for Size: Despite his mass, Williams moves fluidly, showing lateral agility to pursue plays down the line and surprising flexibility to adjust his leverage mid-rep.
- Motor: He plays with relentless energy, chasing ball carriers in pursuit and maintaining effort through long downs.
Areas for Improvement
- Pass Rush Consistency: While Williams flashes pass rush upside with power and occasional moves (rip, swim), he lacks a refined arsenal and doesn’t consistently threaten as a quarterback disruptor. His 11.5 career sacks are solid but not elite.
- Pad Level Drift: Tends to rise out of his stance as reps progress, reducing his leverage and making him vulnerable to skilled linemen who can exploit his upright posture.
- Stamina Concerns: Heavy snap counts (583 in 2024 despite missing games) suggest durability, but he occasionally shows signs of fatigue late in games, which could require early snap management in the NFL.
- Block Recognition: He can be late to diagnose complex blocking schemes, particularly down blocks or double teams, leading to him being washed out of gaps at times.
Conclusion
Williams is a rare blend of size, strength, and athleticism who transformed his body and game at Ohio State into that of an NFL-caliber lineman. While he may not ascend to the elite tier of interior disruptors like Aaron Donald or Chris Jones, his ability to anchor a defensive front and wreak havoc in the run game gives him a clear path to success. If he lands with a creative defensive coordinator who can refine his pass-rush plan and manage his snaps early, Williams has the tools to become a multi-year starter and a tone-setter in the trenches. His journey from a 360-pound freshman to a chiseled National Champion speaks to his work ethic—an intangible that could push him beyond expectations at the next level.
Williams profiles as a high-floor, scheme-versatile defensive tackle with Day 1 starter potential in the right system. His ideal fit is as a 3-technique in a 4-3 defense, where his quickness and power can be maximized, though he can slide to nose tackle in odd fronts when needed. He projects as an immediate impact run defender with the upside to develop into a solid complementary pass rusher with coaching. Teams like the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, or Denver Broncos—prioritizing trench depth—could see him as a plug-and-play addition.
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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