Georgia defensive stars Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams and Malaki Starks declare for NFL Draft
ATHENS, Ga. — Three of Georgia’s defensive stars have made the expected decision to enter the NFL Draft.
Linebacker Jalon Walker, the 2024 Butkus Award winner, edge rusher Mykel Williams and safety Malaki Starks made it official on Monday, announcing their decisions on social media. All three are projected first-round picks.
Williams was a factor all three seasons at Georgia, leading the team with 4.5 sacks as a freshman when the Bulldogs won the national championship. He missed a few games with injuries this season. In 40 career games, Williams had 67 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.
Walker emerged this past season as one of the team’s top defensive players and one of its overall leaders. In his first two years, Georgia had trouble finding a spot for him due to his versatility and other talented players at the linebacker spots. But the coaches made sure to get him on the field this season as much as possible, and he led the team in tackles for loss (10.6) and sacks (6.5) while racking up 60 total tackles.
Starks, also a junior, led the team with 77 tackles in 2024 and earned second-team All-America honors from The Athletic.
Not all of the Bulldogs stars are on their way out. Defensive lineman Christen Miller announced earlier on Monday he will return for another season. Miller has a high upside but missed a lot of time this year, and his return bolsters the defensive front for 2025.
The Bulldogs are also awaiting NFL decisions from their top cornerback, Daylen Everette, and starting end Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
Georgia is loaded at linebacker and edge, so the losses of Walker and Williams, while substantial, will open up chances for talented youngsters. That includes freshman linebackers Justin Williams and Chris Cole and sophomore edge Gabe Harris.
A handful of other defensive starters were seniors this year: outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss, inside linebacker Smael Mondon, nose tackle Nazir Stackhouse and defensive tackle Warren Brinson.
Walker is one of my favorite defenders in this class as his versatility along the front seven is really only rivaled by Penn State’s Abdul Carter. As a true junior this season, Walker showed an ability to win with speed, power and twitch off the edge in standard rush situations, and he remains a very steady hand in the stack both against the run and out in space. Walker won inside, outside and anywhere else he stood this season. He’s been my LB1 for some time now with an easy first-round grade.
Williams, meanwhile, flashes the type of traits that are reminiscent of former Bulldog and current Jacksonville Jaguar Travon Walker. He’s huge, long, explosive, agile and has length and pop in his hands. On potential alone, Williams is a top-three defender in the class. His lack of availability due to injury and general inconsistency remains concerning. Much like where Travon Walker was when he declared, Williams will need time to develop at the next level. Like Walker, he’s an easy first-round grade — possibly a top-10 pick.
The number of things a modern NFL safety is tasked with seems to grow by the year. Being able to execute and organize different coverages, fitting the run from the box or the back end, pressing in the slot and playing the ball in the air. Starks does all of these things as naturally as you’ll see from a young safety. He is only 20 and his football IQ as a defender who lined up all over the field and made play after play is as high as any player in the class. Starks has enough talent to be taken in the top 15 of this draft. He’s also a safety who isn’t going to blow people away with his 40 time. This is not unlike the Brian Branch situation from a few years back. Either way, he’s an instant-impact candidate.— Baumgardner
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Georgia Bulldogs, College Football
