49ers 2025 first round pick Mykel Williams: A Comprehensive Analysis of Georgia’s Defensive Standout
Part 1 of 3 looking in-depth at Mykel Williams, the 49ers first round selection, 11th overall, in the 2025 NFL draft.
**Author’s note:*** This article series is a 3-part series looking at Mykel Williams. By the time I finished writing it and pulling film clips, there was too much good content for one article, allowing the readers to instead see a more in-depth look at Williams. I started with his background, college stats, and measurables in this introductory piece. Part two will look at Williams run defense tape while part 3 will focus on Williams as a pass rusher. I don’t plan to do this in-depth on the 49ers other prospects because there are a lot to get to but Williams deserved his own series primarily because he’s such a good player and because the 49ers had a high pick and used it on a potentially their most influential pick since Bosa. Enjoy!
Mykel Williams established his position among the Georgia Bulldogs defensive legends who have consistently sent athletes to become NFL players. Through physical power combined with technical mastery and his relentless work ethic, Williams led Georgia toward national championships while maintaining SEC dominance. The 49ers selected him 11th overall in the first round.
Background and Early Career
Mykel Williams started his collegiate rise to fame at Hardaway High School in Columbus Georgia. The sophomore season found Williams already making waves as an edge rusher with his explosive moves at 6'3" and 240 pounds.
As a senior Williams developed into a 6'5" 261-pound four-star defensive lineman receiving the consensus No. 2 defensive lineman ranking and No. 6 overall ranking in the 2022 recruiting class.
Other recruiting sites had him as a top 10 player coming into college and a top 3 player at his position.
High School Accolades:
-2021 Georgia 4A Defensive Player of the Year
- USA Today All-American
-Under Armour All-America Game MVP (3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles)
-24/7 Sports Composite Rating: 0.9965 (No. 7 overall nationally)
High school videos showcased Williams as a player who exceeded expectations for his age group. The player demonstrated leadership through his ability to generate speed and power alongside instinctual movements on the field.
Williams delivered 4 sacks with a crucial fumble recovery during the decisive playoff matchup against Carver High to demonstrate his ability to perform at his best in crucial moments. Williams demonstrated skills comparable to Travon Walker and Jordan Davis from Georgia but with athletic qualities like power and strength that matched Khalil Mack.
Williams rejected Alabama and USC and Clemson recruiting efforts to choose Georgia in July 2021. Williams chose Georgia because of their successful track record of developing NFL defensive linemen under the guidance of defensive coordinators Glenn Schumann and Tray Scott. Williams described his choice in an interview by stating that Georgia felt like his true home. The program builds more than football players because they construct people.
College Career and Statistical Breakdown
Williams joined Georgia early in January 2022 to participate in spring drills while securing first-string defensive positions. The advanced technical skills and maturity of the player allowed him to seamlessly transition into college football competition.
Freshman Season (2022):
Games Played: 15 (All 15 games, including 4 starts)
Tackles: 28 total (15 solo, 13 assisted)
Sacks: 4.5 (3rd among SEC freshmen)
Tackles for Loss (TFLs): 7
QB Hurries: 9 (per Pro Football Focus)
Williams’ freshman campaign was defined by his adaptability. The defensive scheme at Georgia required Williams to move between defensive end, 3-technique tackle, and outside linebacker roles in hybrid packages.
Williams delivered his best performance during the College Football Playoff semifinal game against Ohio State where he racked up five tackles including two tackles for a loss and one sack. Despite limited defensive play time at 45%, Williams received Freshman All-American recognition and helped Georgia achieve its 2022 national championship victory.
Sophomore Season (2023):
Games Played: 13 (Started all13 games)
Tackles: 18 total (11 solo, 7 assisted)
Sacks: 4.5 (T-4th in SEC)
TFLs: 7
QB Hurries: 12 (2nd on team)
Forced Fumbles: 1
The pass rush win rate of Williams stood at 22.1% (first among SEC DEs based on PFF statistics).
Williams demonstrated major improvement during 2023 to become Georgia’s top pass rush specialist. His refined technique along with enhanced play recognition led him to record a sack, two tackles for losses, a forced fumble and fumble recovery in a dominant performance against Florida State in their bowl game. Williams proved himself as a top NFL Draft prospect for 2024 through his outstanding individual development even though Georgia did not defend its three-peat championship.
Junior season (2024):
Games played: 12
Tackles: 21 total (15 solo, 6 assisted)
Sacks: 5
Tackles for loss: 9
Forced fumbles: 2
Williams had five sacks, four of them coming in two games versus Texas mid season and in the SEC Championship game.
Combine and measurables
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 265
Hand: 10¼”
Arm length: 34-3/8”
Wingspan: 82-7/8”
40-yard dash: 4.75
Williams possesses elite size and traits for the defensive end position when compared to other athletes there. His best attribute, aside from raw strength, is his arm length, which, as we’ll see in the following articles, is instrumental in ability to stonewall blockers in the run and pass, which allows him put himself in the best position possible to make a play. And he made plenty.
Over the next few days, the next two articles on Williams will be published and will cover the prospect’s run defense and pass rush ability as well as where and how he fits into the 49ers defense or how we might see him deployed.
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