When the Detroit Lions grabbed Tyleik Williams in the first round, they knew they were getting a big-time defensive talent. But if you ask his college coach, they may have landed something even more special.
Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson—who’s worked with NFL studs like the Bosa brothers, Chase Young, and Sam Hubbard—couldn’t stop praising the Lions’ new defensive tackle during a Friday media session. He didn’t hold back when talking about Williams’ upside.
According to Johnson, Williams has two superpowers: elite quickness and top-tier football IQ.
At 6’3″, 334 pounds, Williams has the frame of a run-stuffer, but he moves like someone 50 pounds lighter. “His initial quickness off the ball, his ability to bend and turn corners—it’s just not normal,” Johnson said. He even shared that when Williams first arrived on campus during the COVID era, the staff expected a 270-pound prospect. What they got was a 340-pounder who ran like a linebacker. After watching him blaze a 40-yard dash in the 4.9 range, any doubts vanished.
But it’s not just the physical tools. Johnson said what truly sets Tyleik apart is his mind. “His football IQ is off the charts,” he explained. Williams not only picks up offensive line tendencies on film—he decodes play signals mid-game. “You’d see him standing up, calling out where the play was going before the snap. Then he’d come to the sideline and tell us everything he heard.”
And then came the big name drop: Aaron Donald.
Johnson was quick to temper expectations but couldn’t help but note the similarities in movement skills. “I’m not saying he’s Aaron Donald,” Johnson clarified, “but the way he can shift, go power or finesse—that’s special. It’s the same kind of movement traits.”
Sure, it’s early to start talking about Donald-level production. But if Williams lives up to even part of the hype, Brad Holmes and the Lions may have just found a cornerstone in the middle of their defense.
Lions’ New DT Tyleik Williams Earns High Praise, Aaron Donald Comparison
