Justin Williams has been chomping at the bit for two years. In 2026, it’s finally time for him to claim his place on Georgia's defense.
“I'm very excited,” Williams said Monday. “Been waiting a long time. That comes with Coach [Kirby] Smart being able to trust in me. Without that trust, I wouldn't be here where I'm at… Hopefully I can just go prove to him that he made the right decision.”
Justin Williams is ready to prove his worth for Georgia after waiting his turn
Three-year starting inside linebacker C.J. Allen is off to the NFL after making 30 starts for the Bulldogs and carrying a heart-and-soul presence in the middle of the defense. It’s created a need for someone to fill in off the ball.
Senior Raylen Wilson will be a big part of that and projects to return as Georgia’s starting “money” backer. Junior Chris Cole might flat-out be the best player on this team as he offers exceptional versatility.
But the linebacker who could receive the biggest jump in playing time, relative to what he had last season, is Williams.
“I’ve definitely seen him grow a lot,” Cole said of Williams. “He's now playing very fast and starting to recognize things that he might have not [have as a freshman]... He’s playing fast and playing free and just being a better leader on this team.”
Williams is a 2024 five-star prospect who was rated the No. 1 linebacker in his class. Scouts raved about his combination of frame (6-foot-2, 220 lbs) and athleticism. He has all the traits to be a heat-seeking missile towards the ball, a dangerous blitzer and a play finisher in space.
In other words, he’s well-equipped to carry on the legacy of exceptional off-ball linebackers at Georgia.
Williams has shown some chops defending the run. In 87 run defense snaps last year, he recorded 16 tackles for the highest stop rate of anyone on the team. (18.4%)
2024 classmates Cole, safety K.J. Bolden, outside linebacker Quintavius Johnson and cornerbacks Ellis Robinson IV and Demello Jones carved out sizable roles on the team last season. But Williams has had to bide his time in Athens.
Last year in his sophomore season, Williams appeared in all 14 games as a reserve. He recorded 36 tackles with four for loss, and broke up one pass. He’s set for an uptick this season.
“He's going to get more opportunities to play [this year],” Smart said. “He needs to play well, tackle well. He plays fast, he plays physical, but his biggest thing has been maintaining his weight, being able to keep his weight on him.”
Justin Williams is eager to finally show his true potential
Even though he hasn’t been able to get on the field as much as he’d probably like, Williams’ attitude has not been an issue. Teammates and coaches have highlighted his infectious personality since the moment he arrived in Athens. Smart in particular pointed to one junior day visit when Williams was a recruit where he was “all in” and left an unmistakable impression.
“Every competition we had, he was in the front of the line,” Smart said. “He was smiling, laughing, meeting other recruits. Just felt like a ball of energy.”
Smart said that approach has carried over into the way Williams plays.
“He plays really hard, plays with a lot of passion and energy,” Smart said. “He leads that way. There's not something that we do as a team that he's not right at the front of the line.”
Smart said Williams and Cole have “kind of the same personality” with the joy they find in each moment, and the energy they bring to the field. The two have grown close in their two years as teammates.
When asked if anyone on the team has been a particularly vocal presence this summer, Cole chose Williams without hesitation.
“He's always hyped,” Cole said of Williams. “No matter if it's 5:00 in the morning or 10:00 at night, he's always hyped and excited to go.”
But Williams has also learned when to rein that motor in at times. He admitted that the speed of the game took some time to adjust to, and there’s only so much you can really do in practice to prepare for the pace of play on Saturdays. However, two years in the program have brought him a new level of comfort and confidence on the field.
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