San Francisco, CA – In a press conference that sent shockwaves through the NFL, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan dropped a bombshell on Wednesday, praising two under-the-radar defensive linemen from the 2025 draft class who are rapidly evolving into absolute monsters on the line. Mykel Williams, selected No. 11 overall, and Alfred Collins, picked at No. 43, may not have lit up the stat sheets in Week 1, but their meteoric rise in Week 2 has the entire league on high alert. If this trajectory holds, the 49ers’ defensive front could become an unstoppable force en route to another Super Bowl run.
Shanahan didn’t mince words when discussing the duo’s explosive improvement, calling their progress “a big leap” that has him “excited about what’s coming.” In a league where rookie seasons are often defined by growing pains, Williams and Collins are flipping the script, transforming from raw talents into polished threats overnight.
“I think a lot,” Shanahan said during his midweek media session. “You know, they did some good things in game one, but we saw even better in game two. Alfred got out there more, flashed a bunch. I see both of those guys just working the right way, made of the right stuff. Alfred’s been stringing together a lot of stuff, he’s been able to avoid injury. Mykel’s getting back and getting used to it and I thought it was a big improvement in Week 2.”
The numbers back up Shanahan’s glowing assessment. Williams, a Georgia product with freakish athleticism, started his NFL career modestly in Week 1 with just one tackle. But beneath the surface, he was already disrupting plays—stuffing runs and collapsing pockets in ways that didn’t always register in the box score. Fast-forward to Week 2, and the 6-foot-5 edge rusher erupted: three quarterback pressures, four run stops per Pro Football Focus, and a presence that had opposing offenses scheming extra blockers just for him. “He’s getting back and getting used to it,” Shanahan noted, hinting at Williams shaking off any early-season rust from his college-to-pro transition.
Collins, meanwhile, embodies the gritty, blue-collar archetype that Shanahan loves on his trenches. The Texas standout barely registered in the opener, but Week 2 was a revelation. He knifed through a double team for a bone-rattling QB hit, finished with a couple of tackles, and showed the kind of violent hand usage that screams future star. “Alfred got out there more, flashed a bunch,” Shanahan raved, emphasizing how the interior disruptor is finally staying healthy and stacking reps. No longer buried on the depth chart, Collins is emerging as a rotational beast who could push veterans like Javon Hargrave for snaps sooner than expected.
This isn’t just coach-speak fluff—it’s a seismic shift for a 49ers defense that entered 2025 with sky-high expectations but needed fresh blood to sustain its dominance. The Niners’ front seven was already elite, but with Nick Bosa anchoring the edge and Arik Armstead holding down the middle, the addition of Williams and Collins adds layers of depth and explosiveness. Analysts are buzzing: If these two keep ascending, San Francisco’s run defense—already a brick wall—could become downright impenetrable, forcing quarterbacks into predictable passing situations where the secondary feasts.
Of course, the NFL is a grind, and Week 2 fireworks don’t guarantee a rookie of the year campaign. Williams and Collins will face stiffer tests ahead, with divisional foes like the Rams and Seahawks scheming to neutralize them. But the jump from tentative debuts to monster-mode performances is the kind of sign that separates contenders from pretenders. Shanahan’s revelation isn’t hyperbole; it’s a warning shot to the league: The 49ers’ 2025 draft class isn’t just developing—it’s detonating.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Levi’s Stadium, where these two underdogs could redefine the Niners’ legacy. The league? Consider it officially on notice. Buckle up, NFL—San Francisco’s monsters are just getting started.