The newest member of the San Francisco 49ers is 20-year-old edge rusher Mykel Williams. The 49ers added the 6-foot-5, 265 lb defensive end in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft with the No. 11 overall pick.
While you might know a bit his statistics, accolades, highlights and draft traits, here’s a look at five other things to know about Williams.
Williams is the latest pass rusher to enter the NFL out of the talent-rich pipeline from Athens, Georgia. Kirby Smart’s program has produced some of the league’s best defensive line prospects in recent drafts. Players like Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Travon Walker, Lorenzo Carter, Nolan Smith, Azeez Ojulari, Leonard Floyd and Devonte Wyatt represent the already stacked Georgia defensive line alumni group.
Georgia to San Francisco
Despite Georgia being one of the most prolific producers of talent at the college level, the 49ers haven’t connected with Georgia in the first round in a long time. The last time the 49ers selected a prospect out of Georgia in the first round was 1953. With the first pick in the 1953 NFL draft, the 49ers selected Harry Babcock, a tight end out of Georgia. Fast forward to 2025, Williams became the 49ers’ first first-round pick out of Georgia in 72 years.
SEC Championship Performance
Mykel Williams saved one of the best performances of his college career for the 2024 SEC championship game against the Texas Longhorns. Against Steve Sarkasian’s Longhorns, Williams notched a career-best two sacks to go along with a pass deflection and three tackles in Georgia’s 22-19 overtime win.
National Champ
As a freshman in 2022, Williams went through the college football playoff as the Bulldogs secured the national title with a 65-7 win over TCU. During the Bulldogs’ championship run, Williams led the team in sacks with 4.5.
Wrestling Background
Along with being a five-star recruit on the football field in high school, Williams also hit the mats as a wrestler for Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia.
In an interview with Georgiadogs.com’s John Frierson, Williams spoke about his wrestling background. Williams started wrestling at 220 lbs as a freshman before moving up to 285 as a senior. Williams told Frierson that his wrestling experience has helped his career on the football field.
Via georgiadogs.com:
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.
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