All eyes on Mykel Williams entering important junior season
Mykel Williams has been one of Georgia’s most talented players the past few seasons. A five-star prospect who ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation coming out of high school, the Hardaway (Columbus, Ga.) product has had eyes on him from the day he arrived in Athens. Now more than ever though, attention is on Williams entering the fall – and what could possibly be his last season in red and black as one of the top draft prospects for 2025.
Through two seasons, Williams has totaled 46 tackles including 13 for loss with nine sacks (4.5 each season). It’s not necessarily the kind of stats you would expect to see from somebody whose name is being mentioned as a potential top-10 pick, but the upside is intriguing. Williams has primarily been used as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive lineman, oftentimes shifting inside rather than sticking to the edge and all out rushing the passer. However, he’s expected to be used this coming season in a way that might showcase his full skillset.
“Williams shares many similarities to another former Georgia Bulldog, 2022 No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker,” Pro Football Focus pointed out. “Like Walker, he’s a powerful player at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds who uses his strength most as a run-defender. His 82.0 run-defense grade since 2022 is fifth among returning Power Five edges. Also like Walker, Williams is still developing as a pass-rusher. He posted a 73.3 grade in that regard last year and didn’t explode off the snap as much as you’d expect for a former top-10 recruit. He most often lined up on the inside shoulder of the tackle in 2023, so it’s possible he could improve now that he’s moving to outside linebacker and will rush off the edge.”
The Williams-Walker comparison is one that has been there since he arrived. Both were on the field as freshmen making impact plays. For Williams, that came as he led Georgia in sacks. He had one in each of UGA’s College Football Playoff wins over Ohio State and TCU on the Bulldogs’ way to a National Championship. Meanwhile, Walker helped the 2019 team to one of the nation’s top defenses with an emphasis on creating havoc – like he did to end a ranked road win over Auburn.
Both were also productive as sophomores, but if the comparable trajectory continues, it’ll result in Williams’ best season awaiting him this fall. Walker recorded more tackles, TFLs and sacks in his final season (37 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 6.0 sacks) than he did his first two combined. Williams doing so is certainly on the table.
It’s an interesting comparison and one we’re certain to hear more and more as the season approaches. Whether Williams pans out like Walker – who went first overall in the 2022 NFL Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars as a bit of a projection pick – remains to be seen. One thing that’s sure to be true though: all eyes are on the 6-foot-5, 265-pound former five-star as he enters an important season to his collegiate career.
