BOOOOM! Four-star defensive tackle Tyleik Williams commits to Ohio State

It’s pretty much been nothing but doom and gloom for Ohio State fans these last few weeks. Between the Big Ten’s decision to cancel the fall football season and the lack of transparency that has followed, really the only beacon of light Buckeye Nation has had going for them is recruiting.

Ryan Day has been setting the trail on fire despite all of the challenges that have been thrown at him in his early tenure as Ohio State’s head coach, and he and his staff have been able to keep up that momentum through it all. Just last week, the Buckeyes secured a commitment from 2022 athlete Dasan McCullough, and on Thursday he and his guys got it done yet again.

This time, it was four-star defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, who today announced his commitment to Ohio State. The latest BOOOOM in this loaded 2021 class, Williams becomes the 19th pledge and the third defensive lineman to join the nation’s No. 1 group.

Williams, a product of Unity Reed High School in Virginia, is the No. 5 player in his home state, and comes in as the No. 10 DT in the country and the No. 160 player in the class overall according to the 247Sports Composite.

Officially holding over 30 scholarship offers from some of the nation’s top programs, he chose Ohio State over the other five schools he listed in his Final Six back at the end of June — which included Alabama, LSU, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech. He is the third member of the 2021 class to be recruited by Larry Johnson, joining fellow defensive linemen Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall.

Here is what 247Sports national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn had to say about William’s abilities:

Excellent frame with lean build. Long and athletic in space. Can easily add 30 pounds. Explodes at snap. Covers ground quickly in first three steps. Impressive body control for size. Runs well and can re-direct down line of scrimmage. Disengages quickly and locates ball carrier well. Good tackler. Has to play with lower pad level. Adding strength in the lower and upper body integral to play inside. Possesses good technique but must refine moves. Continued development with hand usage important. Multi-year starter at Top 20 program. Day 3 NFL draft potential.

Williams’ commitment allows Ohio State to stave off surging Alabama to regain the nation’s No. 1 class in 2021. The Crimson Tide have been rapidly gaining on the Buckeyes, even passing them by less than two points after their latest commitment. The addition of Williams to Day’s group pushes OSU back up over 300 points once again, and provides a bit of an edge for now. Both schools have a handful of five-star prospects on their radars, and so the battle for the recruiting crown will likely not be decided until signing day.

Check out Williams’ highlights from his junior season with the Raiders as a precursor to what he will bring to the Buckeyes: