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LB Justin Williams epitomizes fire, passion and energy for Georgia

Jeremy Johnsonby: Jeremy Johnson10/09/25JeremyO_Johnson
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Georgia outside linebacker Justin Williams (19) during Georgia’s game against Kentucky on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

Redshirt freshman linebacker Justin Williams keeps seeing his role expand in Georgia’s defense. Last week, he played a season high 32 snaps and tallied six tackles in Georgia’s win over Kentucky.

Williams came to Georgia as a five-star recruit. He’s been working behind incumbent starters CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson in his first two years in Athens.

Things have begun to pop for Williams. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart praised Williams for being the epitome of the Bulldogs’ mantra, ‘fire, passion and energy.’

Williams is one of those players who’s always smiling but playing hard. He d

“Well, he’s always been very competitive,” Smart said of Williams. “He embodies our FPE. He plays hard. He’s instinctive.”

Williams is typically engaged when he’s not in the game. He’s one of the encouraging voices that have been heard throughout his time in Athens.

“He’s probably the most positive guy over there,” Smart said. “Every game we’re in, he’s in somebody’s ear, cheering them on. He’s on the special teams, cheering them on. He’s just a joy to be around and a joy to coach because he’s full of positive energy. I enjoy Justin, and he’s grown up.”

Smart feels Williams has earned more playing time and his role will continue to grow even alongside Wilson and Allen who are Georgia’s leading tacklers at the moment.

“He’s getting better,” Smart said. “He’s getting stronger and getting more physical. Justin is very instinctive, and we need him to keep playing more snaps, so we can divide those snaps up among those guys better.”

Where does Justin Williams’ positivity come from?

It starts at home for Williams.

“I think it comes from my mom,” Williams said. “My mom’s always told me to be, I got a great smile, so just always be positive, use that, don’t show the negative side of you. And I’ll say, at times, it gets hard playing football. It’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows. But as long as you can focus on the positive side, not really focus on the negative, you’ll learn to just be positive and be happy.”

Williams loves football. He has for a long time. That is one of the things that has made him a fit in Athens. Fire, passion and energy are rooted in a love of football. Georgia football means a great deal to Williams. He shows it with his passion.

“I think the energy just comes from the love of the game,” Williams said. “I’ve been playing since I was six, select football, and I just always had the energy. I just love playing football, and I love being here.”


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