For all the fanfare surrounding his first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tyleik Williams said the biggest surprise he received came from a music icon.
John Legend followed him on Instagram.
“I was like, wow,” Williams said. “He got I don’t know how many million followers. He followed me, so it was pretty cool right after the draft.”
It’s another new experience for the Unity Reed graduate as he transitions into life as a professional football player, especially one who went as high as he did in the draft, going 28th overall.
Unity Reed grad Tyleik Williams checked all the boxes for the Detroit Lions
Williams shared that story with the media after participating Friday in the first day of the Lions rookie minicamp. As a precautionary measure, the Lions limited Williams to light drills.
“I just came off a long season so it’s just being smart,” Williams said.
Still, Williams said he has experienced enough already to understand there will be adjustments going from college football to the pros.
“The walkthrough speed. This is basically a practice,” Williams said. “It’s full speed — not literally — but college is literally walking. It’s a different animal in the NFL, definitely. So that caught me off guard a little bit. But other than that, it’s football at the end of the day. So just got to just be tough, be gritty, and you should be fine.”
Detroit is looking forward to seeing Williams bolster its defensive line.
“I think there’s a lot more growth in this kid,” Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew said Friday. “This kid has a lot of upside. He’s got a chance to be a really, really good player for us and we’re excited he was there for us. He’s got a chance to be a really good run player, and I think he’s underrated as a pass rusher. This kid has a chance to be a force in the middle.”
Williams can’t wait to contribute.
“I think I can help in a big way,” Williams said. “Whatever they need me to do, I’m here and I’ll give it my best. Just being dominant. I think I showed that over the years at Ohio State and I think it’ll translate to the NFL.”
Williams is currently wearing No 78. He wanted No. 91, the number he wore at Ohio State, but it was already taken.
“I’m going to stick with it and make it look good,” Williams said. “For right now, that’s my number.”
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