With being more than halfway through the college football season, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Tyleik Williams.
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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tyleik Williams
Tyleik Williams (DL – Ohio St.)
6’2″ – 330 lbs.
Background:
Williams is a four-star recruit who immediately rotated into the defense for 183 snaps in 2021 and posted a line of 16-6.5-5.0. He went 21-2.5-1.0 in 251 snaps the following year. Williams stepped into a starting role this year which will end up being his most productive season.
Positives:
Has extensive experience for a major program, primarily as a nose tackle recently (one-technique). Thickly-built defender who has played at a variety of different weights over the course his career and could conceivably be asked to maintain or lose weight. Plays with the polished awareness and technique you’d expect from someone with three years of college experience. Fires out with power and explosiveness to overwhelm opponents on contact; shows good pop in his hands. Able to anchor effectively at the line of scrimmage against power, with good leverage and knee-bend. Does a good job of keeping his shoulders square. Has good recognition skills to locate the football, playing with discipline in his run fits. Heavy, active hands allow him to stack and shed at the appropriate time. Has a little bit of skinny to threaten gaps, usually working an underarm rip move. Gets his hands up to contest passing lanes. Has been showing greatly improved stamina recently, with the ability to play a high number of snaps. Works hard to pursue in space.
Negatives:
Could potentially lack ideal length. He has been a pretty productive pass-rusher in his first and third seasons of college ball, but looks a somewhat one-dimensional player who relies heavily on his bull rush and gets some of his pressures from schemed stunts/twists. Probably not going to blow away many pro offensive linemen with quickness out of his stance. Doesn’t show a wide repertoire of counters to give opponents something to think about. Has previous had some issues with stamina and weight management/conditioning, but, as mentioned above, reportedly made some progress recently.
Summary:
A thickly-built nose tackle who shows the ability to defend the run effectively as a two-gap defender. Has what looks like a high floor because of his knee-bend, leverage, anchor strength, recognition skills and heavy hands. However, William may never be a particularly dynamic pass-rusher, which could cause him to slip into the early third day. Despite playing a lot of one-technique with the Buckeyes he could also get interest as a zero-technique on an odd front.
Projection: Round 3-4
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