Ohio State has a promising update on their defensive star’s future availability following the win over Purdue

Ohio State blew out Purdue in Week 11 of the college football season and they did it without one of their best defenders. The Buckeyes shut out Purdue 45-0 without standout defensive tackle Tyleik Williams out there. However, the future pro defensive tackle isn’t going to miss any extended time “Tyleik [Williams] was available and […]

Brandon Little Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day speaks to his players in the first half at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State blew out Purdue in Week 11 of the college football season and they did it without one of their best defenders.

The Buckeyes shut out Purdue 45-0 without standout defensive tackle Tyleik Williams out there. However, the future pro defensive tackle isn’t going to miss any extended time

“Tyleik [Williams] was available and could have played," Day said after the game. “We felt like we were going to hold him out unless we really needed him. We plan on getting him back next week full-go. But it was good to see some other guys step up and have to get in there and play.”

youtube placeholder image

Freshman Eddrick Houston got the start for Williams and flashed in his first career start. Houston made three tackles and looks the part of being next man up for the Buckeyes in the middle. While Williams and Ty Hamilton currently hold down the starting defensive tackle spots, Houston could pencil in as a starter next year when Williams and Hamilton are off to the NFL. 

Next up for the Buckeyes is a game with Northwestern at Wrigley Field in Columbus. That is when they will get the senior Williams back out there starting. On the season, Williams has made 21 tackles and 2.5 sacks. In 44 career games over four seasons, Williams has 111 tackles and 11.5 sacks.

Ohio State is about as healthy as they could ask to be at this point in the season. Left tackle Josh Simmons has been the biggest loss to this point for the Buckeyes. Other than that, they’ve been able to stay upright. With the expanded College Football Playoff format, health and depth could be huge keys to winning it all.