Mykel DeAnthony Williams (born June 29, 2004) is an American football defensive end for the Georgia Bulldogs. He won a national championship in 2022.

Mykel Williams
Georgia Bulldogs – No. 13
PositionDefensive end
ClassJunior
Personal information
Born: (2004-06-29) June 29, 2004 (age 20)
Columbus, Georgia
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight265 lb (120 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolHardaway (Columbus, Georgia)
Career highlights and awards

Early life

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Williams attended Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia. After his senior season, he was named the Maxwell Football National High School Defensive Player of the Year.[1] A five star prospect, Williams was ranked by 247Sports as the fourth-best recruit in the 2022 recruiting class.[2][3][4][5]

College career

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Williams initially committed to USC, but flipped to Georgia in October 2021.[6][7] He was the highest-rated recruit signed by defending national champion Georgia in the 2022 recruiting cycle.[8] In July 2022, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said of Williams: "The number one thing that stands out about Mykel is his work ethic. ... I'm excited for him ... He's a great young man."[8]

As a true freshman in 2022, CBS Sports rated him as a "freshman to watch",[9] and ESPN rated him as a preseason true freshman All-American.[10] He played in Georgia's 2022 season opener against No. 11 Oregon and registered two quarterback hurries.[11] At the end of the season, he was named to Pro Football Focus's PFF True Freshman All-America team.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Austin, Brooks (January 20, 2022). "Mykel Williams Honored As Nation's Top Defender". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  2. ^ "2022 Top Football Recruits". 247Sports. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  3. ^ "Mykel Williams". 247Sports. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  4. ^ Evan Cromwell (May 18, 2022). "Mykel Williams Touted As Next Big Thing In Athens". SI.com.
  5. ^ Reno, Harrison (August 29, 2022). ""He's the Spitting Image of Travon Walker," Nolan Smith on Freshmen DE". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Wells, Adam (October 20, 2021). "5-Star DL Prospect Mykel Williams Flips Commitment from USC to Georgia". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Tom VanHaaren (October 20, 2021). "DE Mykel Williams, No. 50 prospect in Class of 2022, flips commitment from USC to Georgia". ESPN.
  8. ^ a b Williams, Jonathan (July 21, 2022). "Kirby Smart is "Excited" about Freshman Mykel Williams". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "Mykel Williams is a true freshman to watch out for in 2022". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  10. ^ Jordan D. Hill (August 18, 2022). "Mykel Williams named Preseason True Freshman All-American by ESPN". ESPN.
  11. ^ Riley, Connor (September 5, 2022). "Why Mykel Williams started in his first career Georgia football game: 'He's going to be very good'". DawgNation. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Mercogliano, Frank (November 29, 2022). "Haulcy Named PFF True Freshman All-America". University of New Mexico Lobos Athletics. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
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