“From Setback to Comeback: Ohio State Star’s Inspiring Message After Pro Day Disappointment”

Tyleik Williams, a promising defensive tackle from Ohio State, recently sent shockwaves through the football world—well, at least for a brief moment—when he took a spill during the team’s pro day. After a concerning fall mid-40-yard dash left fans holding their breath, Williams quickly squashed worries with a cheerful tweet, declaring, “I AM OKAY! Lil cramp at the end.” His ability to laugh off the tumble is commendable, but it raises a thought: how easily could a hiccup like this derail a player’s momentum heading into the NFL draft? Fortunately, for the 329-pound powerhouse, the answer appears to be “not at all.” With projections placing him solidly in the top 50 prospects, Williams’s talent shines through despite this minor setback. As he continues to prepare for his NFL future, will this incident impact his draft stock, or will it be just a fleeting memory? One thing’s for sure: fans can breathe easy knowing the young star is back on his feet and ready to show what he’s made of. LEARN MORE

Tyleik Williams relieved fans with an update after slipping during Ohio State’s pro day. 

On Wednesday, Williams fell before completing his 40-yard dash. The defensive tackle grabbed his left leg before getting helped off, causing concern that he sustained an injury.

Later in the afternoon, Williams assured everyone that he’s fine. 

“I AM OKAY! Lil cramp at the end,” Williams wrote with two crying laughter emojis. “NOTHING SERIOUS.”

The 329-pound Williams claimed he would have finished the 40 in 4.8-4.9 seconds if he hadn’t tumbled.

Tyleik Williams went down on his 40 attempt. pic.twitter.com/EaWIoXA74E

— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) March 26, 2025

Courtesy of The Lantern, Williams returned to the field to mingle with Ohio State players after the incident. Buckeye Huddle’s Tony Gerdeman, who posted a video of the 40 mishap, said Williams “gave a double thumbs up” to family in attendance.

Thankfully, Williams didn’t sustain a significant injury that could jeopardize his draft stock.

The Ringer (No. 30), Pro Football Focus (No. 37), and CBS Sports (No. 47) all rank Williams as a top-50 prospect. Although often projected as a Round 2 pick, some mock drafts have him sneaking into the bottom of the first round.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein called Williams a “drain-clogging run defender with violent first contact and nimble feet.” The scout compared Williams to Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill, a third-round pick in 2021.

“Williams flashes an ability to play through or around the block,” Zierlein wrote. “He physically dominates man-on-man matchups but inconsistent pad level and shorter arms hinder his double-team take-ons. He needs to focus on developing his hands to keep longer NFL guards from getting into him and neutralizing his power. Williams should pressure the pocket from time to time but might not win on his own enough to see many third-down reps. The knock-back pop and ability to eat up runners in his general vicinity could help him become an impactful, run-stuffing three-technique.”

Williams appears to be taking his Pro Day fall in stride, but he shouldn’t drop down any draft boards because of the moment.

Related: Ohio State Star Injured During 40-Yard Dash At Pro Day