Georgia football: Mykel Williams is a much-needed competitive lineman

The Georgia football 2022 recruiting class member to discuss is 5-star defensive lineman Mykel Williams. He is a force of nature and has this uncanny ability to be whatever he needs to be on the defensive front.

One of the 18 early enrollees, Williams flipped to the Dawgs back on Oct. 20 after deciding Southern California wasn’t for him.

The Dawgs finished with the No.3 overall class in 2022, signing six 5-stars, 14 4-stars, and nine 3-stars. Williams was a massive pickup for the Dawgs as they needed someone to replace Travon Walker on the edge and give a little more depth on the front.

Georgia football fans, it’s time we introduce the 2022 class, and today it’s Mykel Williams.

According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Williams was the No. 4 overall player, the No. 2 defensive lineman and the No. 2 player in the state of Georgia.

The Columbus native is a 6-5, 265-pound defensive lineman that can put his hand in the dirt, stands on the edge or even play inside if he needs to. That versatility is one of the biggest reasons he was a primary target for the Dawgs.

There isn’t much Williams can’t do successfully, and he is still growing and learning. He can and will terrorize offenses from all angles on the front, and that aggressive nature will allow him to get into the backfield a ton.

Williams is strong too. While he could add some beef to his frame, the size he is currently at will allow him to play early on for the Dawgs — if he is ready to.

As a senior, Williams recorded 81 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Now that is a senior season to remember and one that proved he was one of the best defensive linemen in the 2022 recruiting cycles.

Throughout his career in high school, he finished with 207 tackles, 59.5 tackles for loss, 41.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles and three recoveries.

Let it sink in a moment, and yes, it was high school football, but Hardaway is a 4A school, so the competition is still fierce. To have 41.5 sacks as a high school football player is absolutely incredible. That talent is oozing out of him, and the Dawgs should be excited to see him work.

How Mykel Williams fits in with Georgia football

Georgia loses Devonte Wyatt, Jordan Davis and Travon Walker from the front seven after the 2021 season, and while the Dawgs have guys to step up for the big men, it was important they find someone who could be versatile off the edge.

Walker was so dominant, and it’ll be tough to replace that, but if anyone can, it is Williams. His natural ability is incredible, and if he works hard, it won’t take him long to see the field.

Some guys ahead of him could get some playing time to start, but right now, it’s Williams’ job to lose, and Georgia needed him badly. He and Walker are almost the same size. Walker had about 10-pounds of weight on the incoming freshman though.

Georgia and Williams fit like a glove because he provides what the Dawgs don’t have right now, and so it could pay off quickly for him choosing to stay home.

A Mykel Williams prediction for 2022

As an early-enrollee, Williams will get a crash course this spring, which will give a good indication of where he is in terms of getting playing time. He practiced some with the Dawgs during bowl preparations, so Williams has a little understanding, but now it’s his job.

Williams will start by game three of the season, and it’ll be because he will flat-out beat those ahead of him. If he can add a little weight over the summer, that will be his job to lose.

Georgia football needs someone to help out on the defensive front with the tenacity and grit Walker did, and Williams could very well be that guy.