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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.

None of them has committed to returning to the Buckeyes in 2024. If most or all of them do, however, the effect on the defense cannot be understated. Ohio State coach Ryan Day has dropped hints that the list of returning linemen will help galvanize a defense that finally turned a corner this season.

Williams exemplified both that turnaround and the tough decisions ahead.

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.

From opening day this season, Williams emerged as a force. His 50 tackles rank fourth on the team, and his 10 tackles for loss lead everyone. He also broke up five passes at the line of scrimmage and played as many as 70 snaps in one game.

In short, he transformed into an all-around NFL defensive line prospect. Success came quickly, and simply continued to build.

“After the first game, I was making more plays than I usually am,” Williams said. “I was on the field more. More accolades started coming my way. So I was doing something right.”

Everyone on the list above also must be considered a legitimate pro prospect right now. The question is whether the timing is right for that NFL entry. For players expected to fall into the late Day 2 or Day 3 conversation, the ability to earn name, image and likeness income at Ohio State may delay the need to jump for an NFL paycheck.

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.

Players opting to play in the bowl game typically serves as a good sign of which way they are leaning on the NFL decision. However, one more game of this magnitude provides one more opportunity for the performance that changes someone’s mind.

Williams blossoming into an NFL prospect in his third season already reflects well of Ohio State’s development. For him and his fellow defensive linemen to consider that future and decide to stick around would change what could have been a season of transition into one of reclamation.

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