ATHENS, Ga. — Mykel Williams believed he had something to prove Wednesday at the University of Georgia's pro day.
Most of all, the highly rated edge rusher wanted to make a point to himself.
Williams is a popular pick to be selected in the first round in the NFL draft next month, even though his statistics from the 2024 season may not look worthy of an early choice. Williams sprained his left ankle in the Bulldogs' 34-3 win over Clemson in the Aug. 31 opener and felt he never fully recovered all season.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Williams still had 21 tackles, 8 1/2 tackles for losses and five sacks in 12 games, and he is seen as a prospect capable of making a big impact at his position in the NFL.
A popular top-10 pick in mock drafts, the Bulldogs' pro day was Williams' opportunity to impress NFL scouts and personnel, including head coaches Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons and Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Williams ran the 40-yard dash when other former Georgia players, including fellow edge rusher Jalon Walker and safety Malaki Starks, waited for private workouts with individual NFL teams instead of taking part Wednesday.
"It wasn't necessarily prove to them but prove to myself that I can run and at a high speed, basically, and I'm capable of running a fast time," Williams said, adding that he "felt pretty decent" in the workout, where he posted an unofficial top time of 4.73 seconds in his two 40-yard sprints.
Starks, Walker and Williams are expected to continue Georgia's tradition of strong showings in NFL drafts. The Bulldogs' reputation for playing strong defense and producing top-level prospects on that side of the ball during head coach Kirby Smart's tenure was highlighted at last month's Super Bowl, where the Philadelphia Eagles smothered quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to win 40-22.
Philadelphia's defense had six Georgia players, including tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis as well as linebackers Nakobe Dean and Nolan Smith.
Georgia has had eight defensive players selected in the first round of the past four drafts, including Carter and Smith in 2023 and Davis in 2022. Williams said that tradition gives this year's group credibility.
"Yes, for sure," Williams said. "Georgia is looked at in a different light. So are programs like Alabama and Ohio State. All the great programs around the country I feel like are looked at in a different light when it comes to the NFL."
Walker, a versatile linebacker who plans to join Williams in a private workout for scouts on April 17, said the success of his former teammates on Philadelphia's defense proves "the ceiling is high."
"You've got a couple Super Bowl winners, so it's a pretty high standard for that," Walker said. "But don't forget the standard that you have for Georgia. Your hard work and perseverance should not change just because you're on a different level. That should just drive you even more to do it independently."
Among other Georgia defensive players working out Wednesday were linemen Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse, outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss and safety Dan Jackson.
Georgia's draft class also includes offensive linemen Dylan Fairchild, Tate Ratledge, Xavier Truss and Jared Wilson, running back Trevor Etienne and wide receiver Arian Smith, among others.