“A Dream Realized: Tyleik Williams’ 1-on-1 With Dannie Rogers After First-Round Selection by Detroit Lions”

The moment his name was called on draft night, Tyleik Williams knew his life had changed forever. After years of hard work at Ohio State, the star defensive lineman heard NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announce that the Detroit Lions had selected him with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Moments later, Williams sat down for a 1-on-1 interview with Lions team reporter Dannie Rogers, offering fans an intimate look at his raw emotions, reflections, and early expectations as he prepares to take on the NFL spotlight in the Motor City.

Clad in a custom-tailored navy-blue suit with a silver tie — a subtle nod to the team colors of his new NFL home — Williams looked both thrilled and composed as he greeted Rogers backstage in Detroit’s draft headquarters.

“Man, it’s just surreal,” Williams said, flashing a broad smile as he adjusted the Lions cap newly placed atop his head. “You dream about this your whole life. You put in so much work. To be here, to be wanted by a team like the Detroit Lions? It’s crazy. It’s the best feeling ever.”

Rogers began by asking him about the wait leading up to hearing his name called.

“It was nerve-wracking, for real,” Williams admitted. “I kept telling myself, ‘Stay patient, stay calm.’ But every pick that went by, I was like, ‘Come on, come on.’ And then when the phone rang… man, I can’t even describe it. Tears. Happiness. Just pure joy.”

Williams revealed that Lions general manager Brad Holmes personally delivered the news, followed by head coach Dan Campbell jumping on the line.

“Coach Campbell said, ‘You ready to bite some kneecaps with us?’ And I said, ‘Coach, let’s go! I’m ready to work.'”

The two shared a laugh at Campbell’s signature intensity — something Williams already seems eager to embody.

Rogers shifted the conversation to fit: Why Detroit? Why Williams?

Williams’ fit with Detroit’s gritty, tough-nosed culture feels natural. He is the kind of player Campbell and Holmes have targeted over the past few years — a blue-collar worker who matches elite talent with relentless effort.

“They want dogs, right?” Williams said, pounding his fist into his hand for emphasis. “They want dudes who don’t back down, who love the grind. That’s me. That’s who I am.”

The Lions’ identity — forged under Campbell’s leadership — has become synonymous with toughness, resilience, and no-nonsense football. Williams, known at Ohio State for his dominance against double teams and his leadership both on and off the field, seems cut from the same cloth.

“They told me straight up: ‘We love how you play. We love your heart,'” Williams said. “That’s bigger than anything — being wanted for who you are, not just your stats.”

When asked to reflect on his journey, Williams immediately credited his time at Ohio State for preparing him for this moment.

“Ohio State’s a machine,” Williams said. “It’s a brotherhood. It’s a place where you gotta bring it every single day. No plays off, no days off. I’m grateful for every coach, every teammate that pushed me there.”

Williams pointed out the similarities he already sees between the Buckeyes and the Lions in terms of expectations and standards.

“Winning isn’t optional — it’s mandatory,” he said. “That’s the mindset. That’s what I’m bringing to Detroit.”

Rogers asked Williams about the toughest lessons he learned at Ohio State, and he didn’t hesitate.

“Consistency,” he said. “Talent can get you noticed. Consistency keeps you great. There were days I didn’t feel my best, but my coaches — Coach Johnson especially — kept pushing me to find another level. I think that’s why Detroit believes in me.”

While football dominated the night, Williams made it clear that none of it would have been possible without his family.

“My mom, my grandma — they sacrificed so much for me,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “There were days we didn’t have much, but they always made sure I had everything I needed — love, support, food, a place to rest my head.”

During his time with Rogers, he revealed that the first call he made after the draft pick was to his mother, who was sitting a few rows back at the draft venue.

“She was crying. I was crying. It’s the best feeling in the world to tell the person who believed in you first that ‘We made it.'”

Family will remain a huge part of Williams’ NFL journey. He said his mother plans to move to Detroit to be close as he transitions into professional life.

“She’s my rock,” he said. “Having her nearby is going to keep me grounded.”

Williams won’t walk into a rebuilding defense. He joins a Detroit team fresh off back-to-back playoff appearances, a resurgent unit that has become one of the league’s most physical front sevens.

He is particularly excited to learn from players like Alim McNeill and Aidan Hutchinson.

“Man, those guys are beasts,” Williams said. “Just watching them last year — the energy they bring, the way they dominate — it gets me hyped. I can’t wait to soak up everything I can from them.”

Rogers asked Williams if he felt pressure stepping into a team that already has high expectations.

“Pressure’s a privilege,” he said firmly. “It means people expect big things from you. I’d rather have that than nobody caring. Bring it on.”

Looking ahead, Williams set clear, grounded goals for his rookie year.

“First off, earn everything,” he said. “No handouts. I want to prove to my coaches, my teammates, and myself that I belong.”

He also emphasized mastering the mental side of the game.

“The NFL’s a different beast. Everyone’s big, fast, strong. But if you’re a step ahead mentally, that’s the edge. Film study, playbook study — that’s going to be a huge focus for me.”

Williams also acknowledged his goal of making an impact in the run game immediately while developing his pass-rushing skills at the next level.

“I want to be that dude they trust to shut down the run, no questions asked,” he said. “Then get after the quarterback when the opportunity comes.”

Before wrapping the interview, Rogers asked Williams what message he wanted to send to Lions fans now that he’s officially part of the pride.

“You’re getting everything I got,” he said, leaning toward the camera. “I’m going to work my tail off every day to make you proud. This city deserves a championship, and I’m gonna do everything I can to help bring one here.”

The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable. Williams didn’t speak like a player reading off a media-coached script — he spoke like someone who truly understood the weight of what he was stepping into.

As the interview wrapped up, Williams stood up, adjusted his Lions hat, and flashed one last, wide smile at the camera.

“I’m ready, Detroit,” he said. “Let’s work.”

Draft experts and analysts praised Detroit’s decision to draft Williams, citing not just his size and athleticism (6-foot-3, 320 pounds) but his motor and leadership qualities as well.

Williams was one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in college football over the past two seasons, consistently drawing double-teams and still managing to generate pressure.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein noted in his draft profile:
“Williams has elite flashes on tape. With pro-level coaching and conditioning, he could become a dominant every-down player at the next level.”

Detroit’s defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn reportedly lobbied hard for Williams behind the scenes, believing that pairing him with McNeill inside would create one of the league’s most formidable interior defensive duos for years to come.

And with the NFC seemingly wide open behind powerhouses like the 49ers and Eagles, Detroit is betting big that Williams can help them win now — not just later.

As Tyleik Williams left the stage and joined his family in celebration, one thing was crystal clear: Detroit didn’t just draft a talented player. They drafted a worker, a fighter, a leader.

Williams embodies the gritty spirit that has come to define Lions football under Dan Campbell. His 1-on-1 with Dannie Rogers offered a glimpse into a young man who is as motivated by his past as he is excited about his future — and that bodes well for a franchise dreaming of bigger things.

The Lions’ 2025 draft class may be remembered for many things. But no matter what happens next, Tyleik Williams’ story in Detroit is just beginning — and it already feels like a perfect fit.