University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Mykel Williams
March 13, 2024 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Mykel Williams spent his spring break doing something he'd never done before. The Georgia defensive lineman, a second-team All-SEC player last season, went on a cruise to the Bahamas.
It's one thing to be a regular college student on a cruise during spring break. It's something else entirely when you're a football player and spring football practice starts about 10 days after you disembark. Fun will be had, yes, but you better leave the ship in as good of shape as when you climb aboard.
A 6-foot-5 and 265-pound rising junior, Williams started 10 games in 2023 and was second on the team with 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. During a Quick Chat on Tuesday before the Bulldogs held their first practice of the spring, Williams talked about spring break, finally getting his hands on the ball in the bowl game, what he worked on in the offseason, and much more.
Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: When we did one of these in November, we were talking about the last time you actually touched the ball in a game, and you said you really wanted to cause a turnover at some point. And in the Capital One Orange Bowl blowout of Florida State, you did, a forced fumble with a 10-yard return. What did that feel like?
Williams: Man, it felt great. It was kind of surreal to do that, to pick the ball up. I kind of wish I was a little faster and could have gotten out of there and scored, but I did the best I could do.
Frierson: Is it weird to play in a game like that, when the other team has a ton of key guys not playing and you're up big by halftime? Is there any sympathy for the other side, or is it just sports and if you're out there, it's your job to do the best you can every play?
Williams: No, there's no sympathy. It's just football. As long as they're out there, we're still coming 100%. Until there are four zeroes on the clock, there's no sympathy.
Frierson: What have you worked on the most since the Orange Bowl? Is there one part of your game that you've focused on?
Williams: I'd say my flexibility and my hand usage. I've been working on my hands a bit more. I'm doing more yoga and more stretching, and more unlocking of my hips.
I just feel different when I do more stretching; I feel looser.
Frierson: Is spring practice different for you now that you've been through it before?
Williams: I do handle it different. I know the process of it, I know how to go through it and get the most out of it.
Frierson: Did you do anything fun for spring break?
Williams: I did. I took a cruise to the Bahamas. It was very nice and I enjoyed myself a lot.
Frierson: How do you make sure you stay in shape while on a cruise?
Williams: There was a gym in the spa, on the 13th floor. It was crazy.
Frierson: I've never been on a cruise, so the fact that there's a 13th floor kind of blows my mind. Had you ever been on a cruise before?
Williams: My first one. There is so much stuff to do. There were pools, the gym, they had a movie theater there, an actual theater where they had shows, even a comedy night — there were a lot of things to do on the boat.
Frierson: Given your size and how hard you have to work out, I bet you put a pretty good dent into those buffets.
Williams: [Laughs] I did. I did. There was decent food on there, as well.
Frierson: What is the best vacation you ever took?
Williams: This might be it, honestly. I don't really take too many vacations, so that probably was my best one.
Frierson: What is your favorite class that you've taken at Georgia?
Williams: I'd say the Program and Event Management class taught by Dr. (Nikki) Tobias. She's a very interesting teacher, non-traditional, and that was my favorite class. We did a whole bunch of strange projects that I didn't think we'd do in school, and that's why I liked it.
Frierson: How much do you think about life beyond football and what you'd like to do once you're done playing?
Williams: I definitely want to go into real estate. I definitely want to do that, so I'm taking small steps right now to set myself up for that right after I'm done playing ball. That's kind of my vision. My mom wants me to start a catering service, so that's kind of in the works, too. I plan on doing different things on the business side.
Frierson: I'm curious about the catering service. Is she a really good cook? Who's going to do the food?
Williams: Both of us. She cooks, and my mom's whole side of the family cooks.
Frierson: What is the best thing your mom makes?
Williams: In my opinion?
Frierson: Yours is the only opinion that matters here.
Williams: [Laughs] My favorite food is her Rotel dip. She puts shrimp or ground beef in it — she makes it different. I like her Rotel dip with her chicken wings.
Frierson: Do you make your own version of it?
Williams: Oh, yeah, for sure. Every now and then, when I'm craving it, I'll definitely make it.
Frierson: What is the best thing you make?
Williams: Steak. I like the way I cook steak. Steak has its own flavor, so you never really have to season it too much. A little salt, a little pepper, a little Montreal steak seasoning, and then just let it do what it do. Put it in the pan with a little butter, sautéed mushrooms, onions, and a little garlic. Then you baste it.
I like doing that. A little steak and potatoes, and some asparagus or some type of green. I like making that a lot.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Mykel Williams spent his spring break doing something he'd never done before. The Georgia defensive lineman, a second-team All-SEC player last season, went on a cruise to the Bahamas.
It's one thing to be a regular college student on a cruise during spring break. It's something else entirely when you're a football player and spring football practice starts about 10 days after you disembark. Fun will be had, yes, but you better leave the ship in as good of shape as when you climb aboard.
A 6-foot-5 and 265-pound rising junior, Williams started 10 games in 2023 and was second on the team with 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. During a Quick Chat on Tuesday before the Bulldogs held their first practice of the spring, Williams talked about spring break, finally getting his hands on the ball in the bowl game, what he worked on in the offseason, and much more.
Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: When we did one of these in November, we were talking about the last time you actually touched the ball in a game, and you said you really wanted to cause a turnover at some point. And in the Capital One Orange Bowl blowout of Florida State, you did, a forced fumble with a 10-yard return. What did that feel like?
Williams: Man, it felt great. It was kind of surreal to do that, to pick the ball up. I kind of wish I was a little faster and could have gotten out of there and scored, but I did the best I could do.
Frierson: Is it weird to play in a game like that, when the other team has a ton of key guys not playing and you're up big by halftime? Is there any sympathy for the other side, or is it just sports and if you're out there, it's your job to do the best you can every play?
Williams: No, there's no sympathy. It's just football. As long as they're out there, we're still coming 100%. Until there are four zeroes on the clock, there's no sympathy.
Frierson: What have you worked on the most since the Orange Bowl? Is there one part of your game that you've focused on?
Williams: I'd say my flexibility and my hand usage. I've been working on my hands a bit more. I'm doing more yoga and more stretching, and more unlocking of my hips.
I just feel different when I do more stretching; I feel looser.
Frierson: Is spring practice different for you now that you've been through it before?
Williams: I do handle it different. I know the process of it, I know how to go through it and get the most out of it.
Frierson: Did you do anything fun for spring break?
Williams: I did. I took a cruise to the Bahamas. It was very nice and I enjoyed myself a lot.
Frierson: How do you make sure you stay in shape while on a cruise?
Williams: There was a gym in the spa, on the 13th floor. It was crazy.
Frierson: I've never been on a cruise, so the fact that there's a 13th floor kind of blows my mind. Had you ever been on a cruise before?
Williams: My first one. There is so much stuff to do. There were pools, the gym, they had a movie theater there, an actual theater where they had shows, even a comedy night — there were a lot of things to do on the boat.
Frierson: Given your size and how hard you have to work out, I bet you put a pretty good dent into those buffets.
Williams: [Laughs] I did. I did. There was decent food on there, as well.
Frierson: What is the best vacation you ever took?
Williams: This might be it, honestly. I don't really take too many vacations, so that probably was my best one.
Frierson: What is your favorite class that you've taken at Georgia?
Williams: I'd say the Program and Event Management class taught by Dr. (Nikki) Tobias. She's a very interesting teacher, non-traditional, and that was my favorite class. We did a whole bunch of strange projects that I didn't think we'd do in school, and that's why I liked it.
Frierson: How much do you think about life beyond football and what you'd like to do once you're done playing?
Williams: I definitely want to go into real estate. I definitely want to do that, so I'm taking small steps right now to set myself up for that right after I'm done playing ball. That's kind of my vision. My mom wants me to start a catering service, so that's kind of in the works, too. I plan on doing different things on the business side.
Frierson: I'm curious about the catering service. Is she a really good cook? Who's going to do the food?
Williams: Both of us. She cooks, and my mom's whole side of the family cooks.
Frierson: What is the best thing your mom makes?
Williams: In my opinion?
Frierson: Yours is the only opinion that matters here.
Williams: [Laughs] My favorite food is her Rotel dip. She puts shrimp or ground beef in it — she makes it different. I like her Rotel dip with her chicken wings.
Frierson: Do you make your own version of it?
Williams: Oh, yeah, for sure. Every now and then, when I'm craving it, I'll definitely make it.
Frierson: What is the best thing you make?
Williams: Steak. I like the way I cook steak. Steak has its own flavor, so you never really have to season it too much. A little salt, a little pepper, a little Montreal steak seasoning, and then just let it do what it do. Put it in the pan with a little butter, sautéed mushrooms, onions, and a little garlic. Then you baste it.
I like doing that. A little steak and potatoes, and some asparagus or some type of green. I like making that a lot.
(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.
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