VAN NUYS, Calif. – The wait was "agonizing" for defensive lineman Ty Hamilton, but the payoff was sweet, as he heads to Los Angeles.

"Everybody wants to be picked higher than they... go, but at the end of the day it's what you do with the opportunity when you get drafted," Hamilton said after the Rams traded up to select him 148th overall.

"For a team to be able to take a chance on you at all, it's not guaranteed anybody gets drafted here, so for the Rams to be able to take the opportunity and draft me, I was just super excited, super blessed to be able to have the opportunity to be a Ram."

McVay told Hamilton they loved his tape from Ohio State, he said, and they had a decent amount of communication during the pre-draft process. Hamilton said he brings "a lot of physicality" on the interior as a "dominant run stopper" who can also rush the passer.

Hamilton had 3.5 sacks and six tackles for loss last season during a career year with the Buckeyes, where he spent all five years of his college career.

"Being able to step in there and be working and be able to come in and make an impact is something that I'm trying to do," Hamilton said. "So being able to go in there and be able to learn from the older guys and be able to see them, really pick their brains and see what's good about them. I'm just excited to be with the Rams."

Hamilton's brother is veteran Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton. The Ohio State standout has learned a lot from his older brother about how to be a successful pro.

"It's just a lot different (than college), more on the mental side than the physical side," Hamilton said. "... Everybody's good in the league, but how are you going to take those mental reps and mental snaps to be able to go against a person and beat them? So if you don't understand that (and) just be able to enjoy the process every step of the way is something that he's taught me and something I'll carry with me to the NFL."

He's only been to Los Angeles a few times, including for this past season's Rose Bowl, but is looking forward to enjoying the sunshine, palm trees and an exciting, young group of linemen to learn from.

"To have a young line, it just sees for a lot of potential," Hamilton said. "I mean, have a lot of young guys with a lot of potential to really go in there and set the tone. For teams that don't really know too much about the Rams, just being able to go out there and set the tone, really hit them in the head."