For Ohio State’s NFL-ready defensive line, will Cotton Bowl set stage for 2024 reunion?
DALLAS — Back in August, before Ohio State football’s Tyleik Williams launched himself in the All-America conversation, NFL considerations sat on the distant horizon.
Sitting inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center a couple of weeks ago, that future confronted the third-year defensive tackle right in his face. Williams committed to playing against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl, but like many of his draft-eligible teammates, held off on announcing a 2024 decision.
Some players arrived at Ohio State on a three-year plan, with NFL expectations already heightened prior to their third year. Others, like Williams, caught up with the process as their play reached another level.
“It came on me quick,” Williams said. “I wasn’t expecting it. but when you play good, good opportunities arise. But only having one good year, there’s definitely motivation to come back, not winning anything with my class. So there’s a lot to think about.”
Williams emerged as perhaps the most game-in, game-out reliable force on a defensive line which came into his own. All of the key members of this group face the same NFL decision. Defensive end Jack Sawyer and defensive tackle Ty Hamilton will play Friday. Defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. have yet to make an announcement either way.
Williams came off the bench as a rotation mainstay in his second season. He flashed great pass-rush potential as a true freshman. He also came to OSU too heavy for a first-team role, and that physical transformation continued for two seasons.
The idea of such a group returning en masse is something OSU has not recently experienced. A few players have made surprising one-off decisions to return, such as receiver Chris Olave. Keeping this defensive line unit all or nearly intact — with similar decisions looming in the secondary for Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock and Lathan Ransom — would assure the Buckeyes of having one of the Big Ten’s best defenses again.
