Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, who is one of many NFL-ready players returning in 2024, made strong claims about the Buckeyes’ potential 2024 defense.
Ohio State reportedly spent $10 to $13 million in NIL money in an attempt to field an elite roster in 2024. This included making some guys stick around for another year along with nabbing top transfer portal players like defensive back Caleb Downs from the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Tyleik Williams thinks the Ohio State Buckeyes can be legendary
An anchor on the Ohio State Buckeyes defensive line, Tyleik Williams said in an Eleven Warriors article that he thinks the 2024 defense can be legendary.
“I don’t want to hype our heads too much, but I look at it like a legendary defense,” Williams said. “We’ve got playmakers everywhere. The guys we brought back, we’re all dominant. So I feel like as a collective unit, we’re gonna be like unstoppable.”
“Everyone is working harder, we know this is our last run,” Williams said. “Most of us don’t have any years after this. We have to go big or go home, and we’re not trying to go home.”
Fellow defensive tackle Ty Hamilton doubled down on Williams’ statement in the same Eleven Warriors article, claiming that Williams and himself could be the best in the country together.
“I think us together could be the best in the country,” Hamilton said of him and Williams. “Yeah, I stand by that. Because we have all the brotherhood in the world. Us together, we’re just in lock with each other and have that chemistry to know we’re going to go out and play for each other.”
The Ohio State Buckeyes weren’t far off from what Tyleik Williams is claiming in 2023, and they will only improve
The Ohio State Buckeyes already have one of the most solid defensive foundations to build upon out of any team in the country. They ranked second overall in the nation in points allowed by allowing just 11.2 points per game in 2023.
The only program to allow fewer points per game was the Michigan Wolverines, which allowed 10.4 points per game and sent 18 players to the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Buckeyes were third in the country when it came to yards allowed by allowing just 265.4 yards per game. Their passing defense was the best in the country as they allowed 145.9 yards per game, which was over 11 yards less than the next-best passing defense. This elite passing defense added one of the best secondary defenders in the nation in the offseason.
The one spot on the Buckeyes defense that could use improvement is the 29th-ranked rushing defense. Interior defensive linemen like Tyleik Williams will have to step up their game against opposing rushing attacks to be considered legendary, which they said they are prepared to do in the same Eleven Warriors article.
“I got to get in way better shape than I’ve been,” Williams said. “(My self-imposed rating) was a joke, but of course, I needed those snaps because the two years before I wasn’t really playing as much. So I just wanted to get more experience under my belt so I can bring younger guys with me because I’ve been through a lot already.”
“I think you have to show a great example for the young guys and just show them how to practice and watch film,” Williams said. “Showing them how to take care of their body. Those are the things we’re going to need to go on this big run. We’re playing like 17 games, we’re adding games, so we can’t always just play 50 snaps a game, that’s not always going to happen.”
Williams accounted for 54 tackles and three sacks from the interior defensive line. Williams was able to get his hands up and deflect five passes over the course of the 2023 season, making his mark on the nation’s best pass defense.
Love me some Tyleik Williams! He’s that nasty, big body in the middle that we need moving forward. https://t.co/R50r63KfrG
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) October 2, 2021
Tyleik Williams is gonna be a SAVAGE against TTUN 😤🔥
– Has led the Ohio State DTs in snaps every game this season
– Leads the Buckeyes in TFLs
– Leads the DL in tackles
– 5 Pass Deflections
– 1 TDpic.twitter.com/w1aH7WBOa8— BIA 🌰 (@Buckeye_Zone6) November 24, 2023
Get More NFL and College Football Content
For more news and trends in the college football world, click here or follow me on Twitter @KusleikaAndrew.