Georgia’s standout junior pass rusher, Mykel Williams, has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury in the Bulldogs’ Week 1 victory over Clemson. As the team comes off a Week 4 bye, head coach Kirby Smart is optimistic about Williams’ availability for Georgia’s top-five showdown with No. 4 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
“I’m hopeful,” Smart said on Monday. “We’ll see. He didn’t do much last week, but he had a lot of rehab on Friday and Saturday, and was able to run. That’s positive, but he hasn’t practiced yet.”
Despite missing Williams, Georgia has started the season 3-0, averaging 2.5 sacks per game, with hybrid linebacker Jalon Walker leading the charge. The team could also see the return of interior linemen Warren Brinson and Jordan Hall, but the Bulldogs and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann will need a healthy Williams to pressure Alabama’s quarterback, Jalen Milroe.
In last year’s SEC Championship, Milroe led Alabama to a 27-24 victory, securing a College Football Playoff berth. Although he struggled passing, completing 13 of 23 attempts with an average of 8.3 yards per attempt—his season low—Georgia’s defense applied significant pressure. The Bulldogs sacked Milroe four times and pressured him on 12 of his 29 dropbacks, containing his mobility. Williams played a key role in this effort, recording two pressures, while Walker contributed five pressures in just seven pass-rushing snaps.
If Williams can’t play on Saturday, Walker may have to take on a heavier role, similar to his performance against Kentucky, where he played 27 of 48 snaps on the edge. However, Walker’s run-defense grade was underwhelming, and Alabama might exploit that weakness again.
Williams, a 6’5″, 265-pound defensive end, is projected as a top-10 NFL Draft pick in 2025. His size and potential will be critical against Alabama’s massive offensive line, featuring tackles Tyler Booker (6’5″, 325 pounds) and Kadyn Proctor (6’7″, 369 pounds). Milroe, while athletic, struggled under pressure last season, and although he’s shown improvement under new coach Kalen DeBoer, he remains vulnerable, with a 25% pressure-to-sack ratio—still among the worst in college football.
Milroe’s tendency to hold the ball for 3.03 seconds on average and his 31.6% pressure rate are weaknesses Georgia could exploit. If the Bulldogs can stifle Alabama’s early-down running game, they can force Milroe into late-down passing situations, where his success rate drops to 17.5%. Georgia’s best shot at accomplishing this rests on Williams’ availability, which is why Smart remains hopeful for his return.
