The Georgia football defensive lineman continues to be misunderstood by the national college football media.
Georgia just recently completed another great draft class and already has the potential to be an even better draft class next year. Notable players eligible for next year's draft include quarterback Carson Beck, safety Malachi Starks and defensive lineman Mikel Williams. But despite Williams' promise as an NFL prospect, the national college football media doesn't seem to agree.
CBS and ON3 recently released their list of the top 100 players in college football, and Williams was ranked No. 73 on CBS' list and No. 97 on ON3. Where is the misconception in the 2025 NFL Draft, where some mock drafts project the Georgia star as a potential top-five pick?
First of all, Williams doesn't stack up the stats like other big men at his position, but that was never the case for Georgia's defenseman. Travon Walker, the No. 1 overall pick out of Georgia, recorded six sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and 33 total tackles in his final season at Georgia. Williams had nine career sacks in two seasons (4.5 in both seasons) and his 13 tackles for loss matched Walker's total in three seasons.
Tennessee Edge James Pierce has received rave reviews from college football analysts, and rightfully so, ranking him No. 1 and No. 2 on their respective lists. Although he has made a mark on the Volante's stat sheet and has continued to shine on the football field since his arrival, there is still a huge gap between the two in the ranking list. In reality, there probably isn't that much of a difference in talent level between the two players.
Williams is exceptional against Georgia's run off the edge and can go after the quarterback at his best. His lack of recognition among college football stars probably has something to do with his lack of ability, but the stat sheet doesn't tell the whole story. He contributed right away for Georgia as a true freshman and has been a playmaker ever since. He is also scheduled to go to Jack with the Bulldogs this season, a move since he is a defensive end. That should allow him to put up more of the numbers that the national media wants from him.
It's not often that there's such a big difference between a college football analyst and an NFL analyst, but Williams is starting to fit into that mold. There's no denying Williams is a player fans should keep an eye on as he enters his junior season with the Bulldogs, and it wouldn't be surprising if he continues to build on his already successful career.
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