ESPN shares which 2025 Georgia signee can have ‘a significant role’ as a freshman

ATHENS — Georgia once again signed one of the top recruiting classes in the country for the 2025 recruiting cycle, with the Bulldogs signing seven top-100 prospects in the class.

This past season saw Georgia get significant contributions from the likes of KJ Bolden, Nate Frazier and Chris Cole, with all three players being named to the All-SEC Freshman team.

As for which of Georgia’s talented newcomers could have similar instant impacts, ESPN’s Eli Lederman tabbed tight end Elyiss Williams as someone to watch.

Williams is one of two tight ends inked by Georgia in this cycle, as the Bulldogs also signed 4-star prospect Ethan Barbour.

“Both have bright futures ahead, but elite size and movement give Williams the edge as a potential early contributor,” Lederman wrote. “Williams’ 6-7, 235-pound frame carries obvious appeal, but it’s the way he moves and makes plays downfield at his size that could make Williams an immediate matchup problem for opposing defenses.

“Tight ends have always played an important role in Georgia’s offenses under coach Kirby Smart. In Williams, the Bulldogs have another tight end prospect capable of carving out a significant role.”

Williams was the No. 1 ranked tight end in the recruiting cycle and is the No. 36 overall player in the class. He is from Folkston, Ga., and played his high school football at Camden County High School.

Georgia has seen plenty of tight ends come in early and make an impression, as Brock Bowers, Oscar Delp and Lawson Luckie are all recent examples of doing such. Bowers famously led Georgia in receiving as a freshman on the 2021 National Championship team.

The Bulldogs are set to see senior Benjamin Yurosek exhaust his college eligibility after this season. Delp will have an NFL decision to make as he is a draft-eligible junior. Luckie leads Georgia’s tight end room in receptions and receiving yards, catching 24 passes for 348 yards to go along with 3 touchdowns. Georgia also has current freshmen Jaden Reddell and Colton Heinrich who are itching to make an impact at Georgia.

Tight ends coach Todd Hartley has routinely had one of the best tight end rooms in the country since his arrival at Georgia prior to the 2019 season. With Williams and Barbour — who had a stellar showing in a state championship win for Milton High School this week — that will likely be the case moving into the future as well.

Breaking down Elyiss Williams, Georgia football 2025 tight end signee

Height/Weight: 6-foot-7, 230-pounds

High school: Camden County, Folkston, Ga.

Committed on: April 8, 2023

Early enrollee: Yes

247Sports rankings: No. 30 overall player, No. 1 tight end, No. 4 player in Georgia per 247Sports Composite, No. 40 overall player, No. 2 tight end, No. 6 player in Georgia in 247Sport rankings

On3 rankings: No. 36 overall player, No. 1 tight end, No. 5 player in Georgia for On3 Industry Rankings, No. 40 overall player, No. 1 tight end, No. 4 player in Georgia for On3

Rivals ranking: No. 31 overall player, No. 1 tight end, No. 5 player in Georgia

ESPN300 ranking: No. 49 overall player, No. 1 tight end, No. 10 player in Georgia

High school stats or honors: As a senior, caught 54 passes for 789 yards and 11 touchdowns. Averaged 15.9 points per game, 12.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game across his sophomore and junior seasons of playing basketball.

Sentell’s Intel on Williams: “His agility at this size is what wows here. He’s rated as a tight end, but most of the good work he did in high school came flanked out wide. Our go-to stats are that he is a 3-time All-State basketball player and 54 of his 90 varsity catches came this fall in a new offense at Camden County.”