University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Mykel Williams
November 21, 2023 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Picture Mykel Williams, Georgia's 6-foot-5 and 265-pound sophomore defensive lineman, lined up as a tight end. Pretty scary, right? Williams wasn't quite as big back in high school, but he was no doubt just as intimidating in his limited chances on offense at Hardaway High in Columbus, Ga.
Touchdowns feel good, Williams said during a recent Quick Chat, but sacks feel better. Williams hasn't yet found the end zone for the Bulldogs, but he's getting his share of sacks. Williams made the coaches' SEC All-Freshman team last season, and The Athletic's Freshman All-America squad, after finishing his first season with 28 tackles, three sacks and a team-high 31 QB hurries.
Williams, a preseason All-SEC pick, has gotten after the quarterback plenty this season, and his 3.5 sacks (tied for first) and 16 QB pressures (third) are among the most on the team. He and the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs wrap up their regular season Saturday night in Atlanta against Georgia Tech.
During the Quick Chat, Williams talked about being big, his favorite player, how wrestling has helped him in football, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Given the size you are now, were you always the big kid in class when you were young?
Williams: Yes, sir. I would say every year since about third grade, I've been the big kid in class.
Frierson: Was that ever a challenge, other than having to buy a lot of new clothes?
Williams: That was a struggle. Other than that, I didn't really pay too much attention to it.
Frierson: Who is your favorite player to watch of all-time?
Williams: I love (Cleveland Browns defense end) Myles Garrett — I love his game. He just uses his athletic ability to make plays. He doesn't really do too much special, it's just how he does it.
Frierson: How much better are you now compared to when you first got to Georgia?
Williams: My game has progressed a lot, especially in the run aspect. I feel like in the run game I've grown a lot, and in the pass aspect, too.
Frierson: You obviously get after the quarterback a good bit. Getting a sack, does that feel about as good as scoring a touchdown?
Williams: [Laughs] I scored a couple of times when I played tight end in high school, so I know what it feels like to score. And getting a sack, there's nothing that can equate to it on a football field, in my opinion. Getting a sack is the most special experience.
Frierson: What was your best play in high school? Is there one that stands out above the rest?
Williams: On offense, I'd say my best play was — I was a tight end in my last high school game ever, against Perry County, and I had run a stop-and-go on a safety. I ran about 40 yards, caught a bomb, and touchdown.
On defense, I had seven sacks in one half in the spring game of my junior year. That was a game.
Frierson: Do you miss getting your hands on the ball every once in a while?
Williams: I do, I do. I really want to cause a turnover at some point this year. I want to either pick it up, cause it — I just want to be part of a turnover at some point. It would be lovely to get one.
Frierson: Did you play a bunch of different sports when you were younger?
Williams: I actually wrestled at one point, and I played basketball. I played soccer when I was younger, too. There's a lot of stuff that goes into wrestling that I didn't know about when I first started, like making weight. That was real.
Frierson: Were you wrestling in the heavyweight division?
Williams: My first year, I wrestled up at 220, that was my sophomore year, and my junior year I wrestled 220 again. I was weighing around 250 from football season and had to cut weight to get down to 220. And then my senior year, I wrestled at 285.
Frierson: Was it to cut that weight? I've heard stories about the guys that put on those plastic or rubber suits and then get on the stationary bike and ride as long as they have to.
Williams: I did a lot of that. I did a lot of no eating, just water. You do a lot of going to sleep hungry when you've got to cut weight.
Frierson: How much does that wrestling experience, all those one-on-one battles, help you out on the football field?
Williams: It helps a lot, especially with the mentality that you have to have. It helps knowing that you're one-on-one, and it's you versus him. You're going to give your best and he's going to give his best. It also builds a mental toughness in you, because you've got to have the discipline to cut weight. It helped a lot.
Frierson: What were you like on the basketball court?
Williams: I was all right [laughs]. I would say I averaged like eight points and eight rebounds a game — nothing crazy, but I was all right.
Frierson: Do you remember your first dunk?
Williams: Oh, yeah. I was in eighth grade. I was like 6-2 or 6-3 at the time. It was a rim-grazer, so it didn't really feel too great, but when I was able to really poke it, really get in there, it felt really good.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Picture Mykel Williams, Georgia's 6-foot-5 and 265-pound sophomore defensive lineman, lined up as a tight end. Pretty scary, right? Williams wasn't quite as big back in high school, but he was no doubt just as intimidating in his limited chances on offense at Hardaway High in Columbus, Ga.
Touchdowns feel good, Williams said during a recent Quick Chat, but sacks feel better. Williams hasn't yet found the end zone for the Bulldogs, but he's getting his share of sacks. Williams made the coaches' SEC All-Freshman team last season, and The Athletic's Freshman All-America squad, after finishing his first season with 28 tackles, three sacks and a team-high 31 QB hurries.
Williams, a preseason All-SEC pick, has gotten after the quarterback plenty this season, and his 3.5 sacks (tied for first) and 16 QB pressures (third) are among the most on the team. He and the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs wrap up their regular season Saturday night in Atlanta against Georgia Tech.
During the Quick Chat, Williams talked about being big, his favorite player, how wrestling has helped him in football, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Given the size you are now, were you always the big kid in class when you were young?
Williams: Yes, sir. I would say every year since about third grade, I've been the big kid in class.
Frierson: Was that ever a challenge, other than having to buy a lot of new clothes?
Williams: That was a struggle. Other than that, I didn't really pay too much attention to it.
Frierson: Who is your favorite player to watch of all-time?
Williams: I love (Cleveland Browns defense end) Myles Garrett — I love his game. He just uses his athletic ability to make plays. He doesn't really do too much special, it's just how he does it.
Frierson: How much better are you now compared to when you first got to Georgia?
Williams: My game has progressed a lot, especially in the run aspect. I feel like in the run game I've grown a lot, and in the pass aspect, too.
Frierson: You obviously get after the quarterback a good bit. Getting a sack, does that feel about as good as scoring a touchdown?
Williams: [Laughs] I scored a couple of times when I played tight end in high school, so I know what it feels like to score. And getting a sack, there's nothing that can equate to it on a football field, in my opinion. Getting a sack is the most special experience.
Frierson: What was your best play in high school? Is there one that stands out above the rest?
Williams: On offense, I'd say my best play was — I was a tight end in my last high school game ever, against Perry County, and I had run a stop-and-go on a safety. I ran about 40 yards, caught a bomb, and touchdown.
On defense, I had seven sacks in one half in the spring game of my junior year. That was a game.
Frierson: Do you miss getting your hands on the ball every once in a while?
Williams: I do, I do. I really want to cause a turnover at some point this year. I want to either pick it up, cause it — I just want to be part of a turnover at some point. It would be lovely to get one.
Frierson: Did you play a bunch of different sports when you were younger?
Williams: I actually wrestled at one point, and I played basketball. I played soccer when I was younger, too. There's a lot of stuff that goes into wrestling that I didn't know about when I first started, like making weight. That was real.
Frierson: Were you wrestling in the heavyweight division?
Williams: My first year, I wrestled up at 220, that was my sophomore year, and my junior year I wrestled 220 again. I was weighing around 250 from football season and had to cut weight to get down to 220. And then my senior year, I wrestled at 285.
Frierson: Was it to cut that weight? I've heard stories about the guys that put on those plastic or rubber suits and then get on the stationary bike and ride as long as they have to.
Williams: I did a lot of that. I did a lot of no eating, just water. You do a lot of going to sleep hungry when you've got to cut weight.
Frierson: How much does that wrestling experience, all those one-on-one battles, help you out on the football field?
Williams: It helps a lot, especially with the mentality that you have to have. It helps knowing that you're one-on-one, and it's you versus him. You're going to give your best and he's going to give his best. It also builds a mental toughness in you, because you've got to have the discipline to cut weight. It helped a lot.
Frierson: What were you like on the basketball court?
Williams: I was all right [laughs]. I would say I averaged like eight points and eight rebounds a game — nothing crazy, but I was all right.
Frierson: Do you remember your first dunk?
Williams: Oh, yeah. I was in eighth grade. I was like 6-2 or 6-3 at the time. It was a rim-grazer, so it didn't really feel too great, but when I was able to really poke it, really get in there, it felt really good.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ FootballKirby Smart All Access vs Auburn - 2025
Tuesday, October 14
Georgia Football - Tuesday Press Conference - Cash Jones
Tuesday, October 14
Georgia Football - Tuesday Press Conference - Raylen Wilson
Tuesday, October 14
Georgia Football - Gunner Stockton Pre-Ole Miss Press Conference
Monday, October 13