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Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams selected by Detroit Lions with 28th pick in 2025 NFL Draft

Spencer-Holbrookby: Spencer Holbrook04/25/25SpencerHolbrook
Tyleik Williams by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams is off the board in the NFL Draft early: he’s heading to Detroit as the No. 28 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Williams was a superstar for Ohio State for the last four seasons, totaling 138 combined tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks during his career. He ended his senior season by dominating in the four-game College Football Playoff run, helping the Buckeyes win the 2025 national championship before moving on to the NFL.

Williams was part of a four-man starting defensive line for the Buckeyes that included defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, as well as fellow defensive tackle and 2025 NFL Draft prospect Ty Hamilton. Williams is the first of the four off the board in this draft, heading to Detroit to become a centerpiece of that defense.

This is now the second straight spring that an Ohio State defensive tackle has been drafted in the first two rounds. Former Buckeyes star defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. was taken No. 54 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams is the highest-drafted Ohio State defensive tackle since Cameron Heyward, who went 31st overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2011 NFL Draft. OR Johnathan Hankins, who went 49th overall to the New York Giants in 2013.

The former four-star prospect from Manassas, Virginia is now heading to the Detroit Lions as a first-round draft choice in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ohio State players available in NFL Draft

QB Will Howard
WR Emeka Egbuka
RB Quinshon Judkins
RB TreVeyon Henderson
TE Gee Scott Jr.
OT Josh Simmons
OT Josh Fryar
OL Seth McLaughlin
OL Donovan Jackson
DE Jack Sawyer
DE J.T. Tuimoloau
DT Ty Hamilton
LB Cody Simon
SAF Lathan Ransom
CB Denzel Burke
DB Jordan Hancock

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