Three Ohio State beat writers reflect on Tyliek Williams’ collegiate career

 

When our favorite NFL team drafts a player, we immediately have questions of: “Who is this guy? What kind of player is he? What kind of person is he?” Tyleik Williams, who the Detroit Lions selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, may be a bit of an unknown to the casual Lions fan (especially as most people in Michigan aren’t exactly tuning into Ohio State games).

 

I was fortunate enough to connect with Ohio State beat writers Tim May, Tony Gerdeman and Dan Hope to get a clearer picture of who Tyleik Williams is on and off the field. These three took the time to answer my questions and share their insights, offering a closer look at the newest Detroit Lion.

 

“Tyleik is one of my favorite Buckeyes” – Tim May

 

Many analysts did not project Williams as a first-round pick. What qualities or attributes do you believe made him a strong choice for the Lions at No. 28 overall?

May: He’s big and quick and strong and aggressive. And he’s productive. Guys the size of him coupled with his quickness are the rare finds in the game of football.

 

Gerdeman: Williams is the size of a nose tackle with the agility of a three-tech. He is extremely quick for 327 pounds. He was a four-year contributor at Ohio State and comes from a winning program. He is the first Buckeye defensive tackle selected in the first round since 2001, which also provides some context on his ability relative to past Buckeye defensive tackles.

 

Hope: He’s an excellent run-stopping 3-technique DT with unusual athleticism for his massive size. With defensive tackle increasingly becoming a premium position in the NFL, I’m not surprised he was selected in Round 1. The Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles also showed interest in him, so I don’t think he would have stayed on the board much longer if the Lions didn’t draft him.

 

What specific strengths did Williams bring to Ohio State’s defensive line unit?

May: His get-off is outstanding, and he fit the bill of what Larry Johnson wanted from his 3 technique, which was someone who could get upfield and disrupt the flow. He was tenacious to the whistle. Just turn on the video and watch him, especially through the 4 game grind of the College Football Playoff.

 

Gerdeman: Williams is quick and strong. Offensive linemen have to really set themselves for his power, but when they do, he can catch them flat-footed with his quickness. If they prepare for the quickness, they’re not ready for the power. Talking with an NFL scout recently, he put it this way: “When he goes, he goes.”

 

Hope: His combination of size, strength and quickness allows him to be highly disruptive at the line of scrimmage, particularly against the run. He’s good at shedding blocks, is a good tackler for a DT and showed impressive stamina for his size as he played more than 1,200 snaps across his final two seasons at Ohio State.

 

From your perspective, what areas of Williams’ game will require development in order for him to thrive at the professional level?

May: Early in his college career endurance was a challenge, but that’s also because he got banged up a little. It was no question his final season.

 

Gerdeman: Williams was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection as a freshman and sophomore, and that was when he wasn’t necessarily conditioned well enough to play more snaps.

Even at 330-odd pounds throughout his career, his wind improved. Detroit may want him to lose some weight depending on what they want him to do. As a three-tech, he could penetrate, but getting all the way to the quarterback wasn’t necessarily a strength. If they want him to rush the passer, dropping about 20 pounds would probably help.

 

Hope: I think that depends on what role he plays in the Lions’ defense. If the Lions keep him in the one-gap 3-technique role he played at Ohio State, he’ll need to continue developing as a pass-rusher as he had only 11.5 sacks in four seasons at Ohio State.

If they move him to nose tackle, he’ll need to work on consistently handling double-teams, as that’s something he didn’t have to do a ton at Ohio State since he primarily played 3-tech and had a ton of talent around him.

 

The Lions organization places a high premium on character and resilience. In what ways do you see Williams embodying the ‘gritty’ culture the team is known for?

May: He seems to enjoy being in the midst of the battle of the big men which is, after all, the essence of real football. Ohio State’s defense in 2024 was known for ‘Give us a yard and we’ll defend that yard,’ something that came to bear in at least four goal line stands of note. Williams was in the crunch zone in all of them.

 

Gerdeman: For one, he’s strong as hell. He holds up at the line of scrimmage and doesn’t just settle for occupying space. He wants to be a problem for the offense. For two, he loves the game. He’s always got a smile on his face and he has always added to the locker room. He is an energy giver, not an energy taker.

 

Hope: I’d go back to the fact that he played a high snap count and rarely left the field for Ohio State in big games, which isn’t something you always see from a 330-pound defensive tackle. He also battled through a shoulder injury for most of last season and only missed three games, so he demonstrated plenty of toughness and competitive drive as a Buckeye.

 

Are there any standout moments, stories, or behind-the-scenes insights from Williams’ time at Ohio State that you think Lions fans would appreciate or find meaningful?

May: He hated losing to TTUN… [“The Team UP North” aka Michigan] He and DT Ty Hamilton referred to their partnership as TNT, referring to what Williams said was their ability to be explosive and blow up plays. “Around the world defensive tackles are usually guys who just eat up space. But here we are playmakers. We’re not just here to fit the gap. We’re here to fit the gap and make the play” – Williams last season.

 

Gerdeman: As a sophomore, he wasn’t playing as much as he thought he should have been and created his own hashtag of #Free91.

This caused a lot of panic among fans that he might be looking to transfer, but it was always just a statement on his desire to be on the field. As a junior, he acknowledged that he wasn’t in the condition he needed to be to be “freed” as much as he’d have liked, so he made sure that it wouldn’t ever happen again.

 

Hope: I’ll remember Tyleik’s time at Ohio State not only for being an excellent defensive tackle who played a major role in the Buckeyes having one of the nation’s best defenses for the last two years, but also for the fun personality he brought to the team and the field.

I can’t recall many times I’ve seen Tyleik that he didn’t have a smile on his face, and he plays the game with that same joy. You’ll always see him celebrating when he or his teammates make a big play, and he wasn’t afraid to troll opponents on social media from time to time either.

 

Needless to say, the insights given here by these two beat writers who watched Williams throughout his career helped paint a bigger picture of who he truly is as both a football player and human being. Williams will go into training camp with an opportunity to take on a hefty role on defense while Alim McNeill is sidelined with his injury.

 

A big thank you once again to Tim May, Tony Gerdeman, and Dan Hope for taking time out of their schedules to answer these questions and give Lions fans more reasons to root for the team’s newest player.

 

Tim May covered Ohio State for the Columbus Dispatch for 42 years before his retirement. The award-winning journalist is still a prominent member of the Buckeye’s media circles. You can follow him and his work .

 

 

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As teams get better, the number of available starting roles diminishes. The 2021 Detroit Lions, kickstarting a rebuild, had to rely on players from Day 3 to fill their roster vacancies. However, as the Lions have turned things around, those starting opportunities have disappeared for many rookies. In 2024, the Lions’ only immediate starter was cornerback Terrion Arnold. Could 2025 be a similar situation?

 

The Lions walked away from the 2025 NFL Draft with seven new faces. How many of them are in line to potentially start come Week 1 of the regular season?

 

Today’s Question of the Day is:

 

How many immediate starters did the Detroit Lions draft in 2025?

My answer: One, Tate Ratledge.

 

I was waffling between one and zero, but I’m having a tough time envisioning a starting lineup without Ratledge slotted in at guard.

The guard competition between him, Christian Mahogany, Graham Glasgow, and fellow rookie Miles Frazier could come down to the wire, and that is not even factoring in dark horses like Kayode Awosika and Netane Muti. That being said, Ratledge is such a perfect fit at right guard between Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell: he is an athletic dirtbag that can absolutely maul in the trenches. You never want to crown a rookie right away, but it’s hard not to get excited about him. I really think the right guard spot is his to lose, with Mahogany and Glasgow battling it out at left guard.

 

Of the remaining Lions draft picks, I do not see any Day 1 starters. Nose tackle Tyleik Williams could have an opportunity if Alim McNeill starts the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but I do not believe he would get the starting nod ahead of DJ Reader or Levi Onwuzurike at defensive tackle. He could see some sizeable snaps early, but I doubt he will be an official starter right off the bat.

 

Elsewhere, receiver Isaac TeSlaa will be a developmental piece behind Tim Patrick (or perhaps as a new-look big slot role)—he only enters the starting conversation if there is a string of injuries ahead of him. Frazier, the other rookie offensive lineman, figures to be a valued depth piece, though he also has a non-zero shot as starting. Ahmed Hassanein will be a rotational edge, while safety Dan Jackson will likely be a special teams-first player to start his career.

 

Ironically, a rookie with a decent shot at starting is receiver Dominic Lovett. However, that starting role would not be on offense, but special teams. Khalil Dorsey is an ace gunner, but following the departure of Kindle Vildor in free agency, the Lions have an opening for another. Many scouts have raved about Lovett’s skill as a gunner, and he could very well earn himself a roster spot purely based on special teams.

 

The 2025 NFL Draft is finished and we are quickly approaching training camp. How many immediate starters do you think the Lions acquired in the draft? Let us know in the comments below.

 

The Detroit Lions’ final selection of the 2025 NFL Draft is Georgia wide receiver Dominic Lovett.

 

Lovett (5-10, 185) has legitimate 4.40 speed and was a two-year starter for the Bulldogs, mostly playing in the slot. Lovett started his college career at Missouri where he caught 82 passes for 1,019 yards and three touchdowns.

 

Dominic Lovett photos

View photos of wide receiver Dominic Lovett.

 

Over the last two seasons at Georgia he played in 28 games (14 starts) with 113 catches for 1,220 yards and 10 touchdowns.

 

Holmes said after the pick he’s had his eye on Lovett for some time and really values his special teams potential. That’s where he can find his niche in the NFL and potentially a role on this football team.

 

“Whenever you put me on the field, I just plan to make an impact any way I can and any way possible,” Lovett said. “It may be on special teams it may be on third down or first down. I’m okay with being a team tool guy wherever they need me to be. I would say gunner, kick returner, punt returner … wherever you want to put me I just want to be on the field.”

 

The Lions drafted Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in the third round and return Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond and others Lovett will have to compete with in camp to earn a roster spot.

 

Behind the Scenes: Detroit Lions 2025 NFL Draft

View photos from inside the Detroit Lions draft room.

 

“Man, I feel like I can learn so much just from how he plays the game, and I feel I can just pick his brain and I can be in his hip pocket and he can show me the ropes to the NFL in the slot,” Lovett said of playing with and learning from St. Brown in Detroit.

 

“But also learning that knowledge from an outside receiver like Jameson Williams. I feel like it’s a blessing I’ll be in the room with two vets who I feel like have been doing it at an elite level. Being able to be around those guys and just hang out with them and pick their brains I feel like it’s a blessing.”

 

The Detroit Lions actually got much better value than you may think for their big trade up for Isaac TeSlaa.

 

On the surface, it looks like the Detroit Lions paid out a mini-fortune to draft Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa at the top of the third round. As a reminder, here are the trade terms the Lions made with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

 

Lions receive:

 

Pick 70 — WR Isaac TeSlaa

Pick 182 (sixth round)

2026 sixth-round pick

Jaguars receive:

 

Pick 102 (third round)

2026 third-round pick

2026 third-round pick

In essence, you could say the Lions spent three third-round picks (one this year, two next year) for TeSlaa and a two sixth-round picks.

 

The trade cost the Lions their own third-round pick plus the third-round pick they got in 2026 thanks to the Rooney Rule which awarded the Lions a 2025 and 2026 third-round pick after Aaron Glenn was hired as the New York Jets head coach.

 

This looks like a big overpay on the surface—especially for a player like TeSlaa, who some had as a Day 3 option. But, interestingly enough, if you look at some NFL Draft trade charts, this trade was remarkably even.

 

Now, it’s worth noting I took a few liberties here. I assumed that both of the Lions’ 2026 third-round picks will happen late in the round. Their compensatory pick will come at the end of the round, but Detroit’s own third-round pick could land anywhere depending on how good they are in 2025. I also assumed the Jaguars’ 2026 sixth-round pick—which is being sent to Detroit—will be a mid-round pick.

 

Additionally, the model discounts future picks by a rolling scale. I took a modest rate of a 40% discount—which is as close to how many teams treat future picks, although each team is different.

 

But looking at the numbers, by the Jimmy Johnson chart, the Lions actually gained value in the trade—a fourth-round pick, no less. However, the other five models favor the Jaguars. Although the tipping of the scales is anywhere from a mid fifth-round pick to a late seventh.

 

Regardless of which model you value the most, it’s clear this trade is not as lopsided as it may appear on the surface.

 

 

Lions general manager Brad Holmes considered trading down from the 28th pick in the 2025 NFL draft but ultimately stayed put.

Holmes cited the thinning draft board as his reason for not trading, despite receiving enticing offers.

The Lions selected Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the 28th pick.

Holmes acknowledged feeling anxious as other teams made trades before the Lions’ pick.

Right before the Detroit Lions grabbed Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the No. 28 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, Brad Holmes’ phone started to ring.

 

A few teams were looking to trade into their slot. Holmes listened to their proposals and was even intrigued by one of them, which would have required them to move down in Round 1. Holmes even described that particular offer as “enticing.” But in the end, he rebuffed it and all others while standing pat.

 

“It just didn’t feel great,” he said.

 

The board, as he saw it, was “thinning out for us.”

 

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (91) smiles as fans cheer to send the Buckeyes off to Georgia for the National Championship game outside the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.

“You just gotta try to make the most responsible decision as you can,” he said. “And so we thought about it.”

 

The fluid environment Thursday seemed ripe for Holmes to swap picks again. Four trades were consummated after the draft started. Two of them went down right before the Lions were set to be on the clock, as the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants each maneuvered their way back into the first round after making an earlier pick.

 

The sudden burst of activity made Holmes nervous because the Falcons had a need at defensive tackle.

 

“There was a little anxiety there,” Holmes said. “The breathing got a little irregular there.”

 

But the Falcons took Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. with the No. 26 overall pick, right after the New York Giants selected Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25.

 

Not long thereafter, Holmes got his guy.

 

“We’re thrilled with how it panned out,” Holmes said.

 

 

 

 

. Reed got toasted on one of the plays that sold Dan Campbell on Reed as a fit for the Detroit Lions defense.

 

“They’re playing, it was early in the year, it was crossover tape,” Campbell said Tuesday at the NFL’s annual spring meeting. “He got beat on the play. He actually got beat. And to watch him put his foot in the ground, kind of stumble out from one of the rare times you get beat, but you get beat at corner, right? That’s part of this league.

 

“He gets beat, he puts his foot in the ground and I mean he is on an all out. He doesn’t have time to think about it, recover. He’s just on a beeline to try to angle this guy off. And I thought that was one of the most impressive things, man. This guy, he doesn’t go in the tank. He’s not worried about what it looks like. He’s just trying to compete and win and he lines up and goes back for more. And that says it all.”

 

Denver Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton has a pass knocked away by New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium, Sept. 29, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Lions signed Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract at the start of free agency to be their No. 1 cornerback after Carlton Davis III left to sign with the New England Patriots.

 

Reed had 11 pass deflections in 14 games with the New York Jets last season and has started the vast majority of his seven-year NFL career as an outside corner.

 

He projects to play that position with the Lions this fall, opposite of second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold, in a secondary that returns four of five starters. Arnold made 15 starts, had 10 pass deflections and led the league in pass interference penalties as a rookie. Amik Robertson played as the Lions’ primary slot cornerback before moving outside because of an injury to Davis late in the year. And the Lions have one of the best safety tandems in the NFL in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.

 

Campbell shared his thoughts on Reed and the Lions’ other top free agent additions, defensive tackle Roy Lopez and linebacker Grant Stuard, on Tuesday and said all three will have roles as “competitive, productive players” who “don’t back down from anybody” on the Lions defense.

 

“Let’s start with Reed, man,” Campbell said. “He’s got coverability. He can play man-to-man, start there, but then he’ll bite on the perimeter. He’ll come up, he’ll tackle, he’ll squeeze the edges. And then when you see him in press man, he challenges. He’s not giving you free releases. Now, he’ll mix it up and then he’ll challenge you at the catch point. Man, he’s feisty, he’s competitive.”

 

Like Reed, Campbell said Lopez caught his attention in a game that others might have looked at through a different prism.

 

Oct 13, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker Grant Stuard (41) during pregame warmups against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Lions ran for 187 yards in a Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals last season, when Campbell said he was impressed with Lopez’s play on a three-tackle day.

 

“I mean, him going against Frank (Ragnow) all day,” Campbell said. “We ran the heck out of the ball, but man, that guy held his own now and we got a pretty damn good center. So that was impressive, that among others.”

 

Lopez projects to play mostly a two-down role this fall on the Lions’ defensive line, where he’s expected to help cover for the absence of the injured Alim McNeill early in the year.

 

“He’s a down and dirty,” Campbell said. “Doesn’t mean he can’t play third down, but he lives in base a lot, man. He’s taking on the double teams, he’s keeping people off the backers. He can get an edge on you and he’ll just do it time out, time in, time out, again over and over.”

 

Stuard was a core special teams player and rotational linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts last season and should play a similar role for the Lions this fall.

 

The Lions return starting linebackers Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes, but fourth linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez is returning from a torn ACL, which could open defensive snaps for Stuard.

 

“Stuard can do it all, man,” Campbell said. “He’s a guy that’s been counted out but just continues to make plays in this league. He’s a dynamic special teams player in my opinion. And he can play defense. I mean he played defense against us.”

 

Stuard had a career-high 19 tackles in an October win over the Miami Dolphins last season and made three stops in 27 defensive snaps against the Lions.

 

Along with his play, Campbell said the Lions were attracted to Stuard by the chip he carries on his shoulder on the field.

 

“That’s a guy that flies under the radar,” Campbell said. “This guy’s an unbelievable special teams player and he can play defense, too. And maybe offense.”

 

Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Order your copyhere. Contact him at

 

 

 

 

One departure that went under the radar in Detroit this offseason was Ifeatu Melifonwu’s signing with the Miami Dolphins. A third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Melifonwu couldn’t make the impact he was hoping for with the Lions as he suffered various injuries throughout his four-year stint. The talented defensive back was able to play out the season fully healthy only once, during the 2023 campaign.

 

As a result, the Lions didn’t retain the former Syracuse standout once his rookie contract was up. The 25-year-old went on to sign a one-year deal with the Dolphins to be reunited with former Lions defensive backs coach Brian Duker.

 

Per Emmett Matasovsky of Sports Illustrated, the former Lion had nothing but positive things to say about the Lions organization. In fact, he revealed that a big part of what he will be bringing to Miami will be what he learned from Dan Campbell in Detroit.

 

“So we knew it was just like keep working and we never lost our identity through it all. And it just showed, like just kept putting our head down and going to work and I feel like that’s what I’ll bring to the Dolphins. I’m just going to – right when I get there, just buy into everything Coach (McDaniel) is saying and everything (defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver) Coach Weaver is saying and just put your head down and work and avoid all the distractions because I’ve seen both of it.”

Ifeatu Melifonwu

Melifonwu was drafted the same year Campbell took over in Detroit. He said that the team was bought in immediately when Campbell arrived and was willing to work hard for their new head coach. That is the same attitude he would like to bring with him to the Dolphins.

 

Regardless of how bad the team’s record is (and it was bad in his rookie season), Melifonwu said the most important thing is to block out the noise and “just go to work every day.”

 

He will be playing under head coach Mike McDaniel in Miami, another authentic, outside-the-box thinker, despite obvious differences with Dan Campbell. Let’s see whether he can build upon his experience in Detroit and find consistent success with his new team.