The Georgia Bulldogs suffered one of the most consequential injuries of the offseason when Auburn Tigers transfer EDGE Amaris Williams tore his ACL in practice this past April. Williams, as one Auburn insider notes, could be a bigger piece for the Dawgs' defense than he ever was on the Plains. If he rushes his return to the field, though, that destiny could go unfulfilled.
Dawn of the Dawg's Trevor Michael doesn't think it's worth Williams' time and effort to rush back to the field in the coming months. Williams has talked about returning this fall, but that'd require being back on the shallow end of his suggested recovery timetable and potentially burning a season of eligibility.
"His injury occurred in mid-April and six months would take us to October, so if his recovery timeline is shorter than the average person he could be back for the final month or so of the season," Michael wrote. "It may be wise for him to wait to come back until 2027 though. That will ensure that he is 100 percent healthy and save him a year of eligibility as well. So while it would be nice for him to come back to help the team this year, in the long run it might be wise to wait until next year."
While the sentiment of doing anything to get back onto the field in Athens is admirable, the moral victory of Williams' return wouldn't outweigh the benefits of sitting out the year and returning when he's completely out of the woods health-wise.
Williams needs to rebuild his range of motion before dipping and ripping at an elite level again. It'll be paramount for UGA DL coach Tray Scott and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann to get Williams back at full health. Anything less would be a waste of a nearly-million-dollar investment, as Williams doesn't have forever left in his collegiate career before likely moving on to the pros.
Amaris Williams showed glimpses at Auburn but was never fully bought in
Williams never seemed completely sold on Auburn. His initial commitment was to the Florida Gators. He flipped to the Tigers in December 2023, but Williams then tried to leave after his freshman season in 2024. He stayed for the 2025 season, but it wasn't long before Williams was back in the portal again. This time, Williams was set on leaving East Central Alabama for good.
Williams had a muted impact as an AU freshman, getting only 120 defensive snaps. He got 210 in 2025, but the damage was done. Williams knew he wasn't getting much out of Hugh Freeze's laissez-faire culture and made a career-focused decision to go with a sure thing in Kirby Smart's Dawgs.
Who knows what Williams could've done in a better situation. He still had 20 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks over two years in the Loveliest Village.
If he overplays his hand, Williams might not up that count too much for UGA. His potential in black and red after a proper recovery is truly limitless.
We'll see how Williams handles these crucial next steps.
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