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.<\/p>\n
John Legend followed him on Instagram.<\/p>\n
“I was like, wow,\u201d Williams said. \u201cHe got I don\u2019t know how many million followers. He followed me, so it was pretty cool right after the draft.”<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Unity Reed grad Tyleik Williams checked all the boxes for the Detroit Lions<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “I just came off a long season so it’s just being smart,” Williams said.<\/p>\n Still, Williams said he has experienced enough already to understand there will be adjustments going from college football to the pros.<\/p>\n \u201cThe walkthrough speed. This is basically a practice,\u201d Williams said. \u201cIt\u2019s full speed \u2014 not literally \u2014 but college is literally walking. It\u2019s a different animal in the NFL, definitely. So that caught me off guard a little bit. But other than that, it\u2019s football at the end of the day. So just got to just be tough, be gritty, and you should be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Detroit is looking forward to seeing Williams bolster its defensive line.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Williams can’t wait to contribute.\u00a0<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Williams is currently wearing No 78. He wanted No. 91, the number he wore at Ohio State, but it was already taken.<\/p>\n “I’m going to stick with it and make it look good,” Williams said. “For right now, that’s my number.”\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Draft analysts react to Detroit Lions selecting Tyleik Williams<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tyleik Williams is Prince William County’s first NFL Draft first-round pick<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n NFL Draft prospect Tyleik Williams remains faithful to his roots<\/a><\/p>\n