When Tyleik Williams locked in his decision to return to Ohio State, he was on a beach surrounded by friends and family.
The 6-foot-3, 327-pound defensive tackle had checked in with a number of his teammates weighing similar decisions. Williams said the veterans of the team were very open with each other about their desires to come back to the Buckeyes while still in their decision process, and came to the consensus that there was unfinished business for them in Columbus.
“I called a bunch of the older guys to see where their head was at,” Williams said after Ohio State’s second spring practice. “They basically told me ‘Why not come back? We have a good squad come back and we can do good things.’ So basically I decided why not? NFL isn’t going anywhere. I can get another year of development and learn more things before next year.”
Williams publicly announced his return to Columbus on Jan. 3. Five days later, one of his fellow defensive tackles, Ty Hamilton, also confirmed he’d be around for another season with the Buckeyes. With both Williams and Hamilton being key pieces of Ohio State’s interior defensive line, there’s no shortage of expectations for their production this season.
“I think us together could be the best in the country,” Hamilton said of him and Williams. “Yeah, I stand by that. Because we have all the brotherhood in the world. Us together, we’re just in lock with each other and have that chemistry to know we’re going to go out and play for each other.”
Williams had a breakout junior season in 2023, recording 54 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass deflections and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 13 games. Per Pro Football Focus’ grades, he was the seventh-best interior defensive lineman in the Big Ten in 2023, finishing the year with an overall grade of 77.6.
But the number Williams will likely be most proud of is the number of snaps he played on defense last season: 638, which was more than double the amount he played as a sophomore (253). Up until 2023, stamina had always been the main thing holding Williams back from realizing his full potential in his collegiate career, a thing he knew all too well.
Now it’s something Williams can look back on and laugh about, especially when he was asked by Ohio State’s creative media team what his overall rating should be in the new college football video game.
“I need at least a 93,” Williams said. “Acceleration 90, stamina 60.”
“I think us together could be the best in the country.”– Ty Hamilton on the one-two punch of himself and Tyleik Williams
When asked about his self-deprecating stamina quip, Williams said Thursday it was a lighthearted attempt at humor, but he still knows durability will be key for reaching the Buckeyes’ title goals in 2024 with the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams.
“I got to get in way better shape than I’ve been,” Williams said. “(My self-imposed rating) was a joke, but of course, I needed those snaps because the two years before I wasn’t really playing as much. So I just wanted to get more experience under my belt so I can bring younger guys with me because I’ve been through a lot already.”
Williams said he’s taking his role as a mentor seriously for younger players, specifically because he knows Ohio State’s defensive line depth will be crucial for maintaining elite play throughout the season.
“I think you have to show a great example for the young guys and just show them how to practice and watch film,” Williams said. “Showing them how to take care of their body. Those are the things we’re going to need to go on this big run. We’re playing like 17 games, we’re adding games, so we can’t always just play 50 snaps a game, that’s not always going to happen.”
Though it’s only been two practices so far this spring, Williams said he’s noticed a difference in energy from Ohio State’s veterans.
“Everyone is working harder, we know this is our last run,” Williams said. “Most of us don’t have any years after this. We have to go big or go home, and we’re not trying to go home.”
Cornerback Denzel Burke turned a few heads on Thursday when he labeled the 2024 season “natty or bust.” Williams followed suit when asked what would constitute as a successful season for him by answering “a national championship.”
Between Sonny Styles moving to linebacker, the addition of safety Caleb Downs from the transfer portal and the returning talent on the Buckeyes’ defense, Williams isn’t shying away from expectations of playing on an elite unit in 2024.
“I don’t want to hype our heads too much, but I look at it like a legendary defense,” Williams said. “We’ve got playmakers everywhere. The guys we brought back, we’re all dominant. So I feel like as a collective unit, we’re gonna be like unstoppable.”
