Ohio State junior defensive tackle Tyleik Williams announced Wednesday that he will be returning for his senior season for the Buckeyes instead of departing early for the NFL draft.
Williams is coming off a dominant junior season with the Buckeyes, registering 53 tackles and a team-high 10 tackles for loss in addition to three sacks and five pass breakups, as well as a fumble recovery. He was named second-team All-Big Ten and received second-team All-American recognition by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
A former four-star prospect out of Manassas, Va., it took time for Williams to catch on with the Buckeyes, totaling 6.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in his freshman season but suffering a sophomore slump last year with just 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. But, Williams was able to turn in his dominant season after slimming down and allowing himself to stay on the field for longer.
“It feels good not having to come off the side, breathing heavy, waiting for someone else to grind for me,” he said earlier this season. “I’ll stay out there and help out my team as much as I can.”
Williams return is an important one for the Buckeyes considering that fellow defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. has declared for the draft. Junior Ty Hamilton is also expected to return to the room, while the Buckeyes are also expecting to return senior Tywone Malone, third-year Hero Kanu and second-years Jason Moore, Kayden McDonald and Will Smith Jr., as well as incoming freshman Eric Mensah.
