The Detroit Lions selected national championship winning Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tyleik Williams toward the end of the first round on Thursday night, giving Detroit another stalwart run stopper and pass rusher in the middle of their defensive line.
Williams’ selection with the 28th pick surprised fans who thought the Lions might opt for hometown hero Will Johnson, who fell in the draft because of concerns about a knee injury.
On Friday, Williams found his way to Allen Park, Michigan to share his raw thoughts on becoming the Lions’ first round pick.
‘They basically told me if I’m there, you know, there’s a possibility they might take me,” Williams said, adding that he had his phone on him and was checking it often.
“When I got that call it was just, I don’t even known how to describe it, that feeling you get, like that rush you get of like, answering that call of like, I don’t think nothing compares to it,” Williams added, saying he spent the night with his family and friends.
Williams was a four-star prospect out of high school in Manassas, Virginia who stands 6-foot-3 inches tall and weighs 327 pounds.
The Unity Reed High School alumnus had 46 total tackles last season along with eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for coach Jim Knowles’ Buckeyes defense and will now team with the Lions’ defensive stars in hopes of bringing a Super Bowl to Detroit.