The Denver Broncos traded up to the No. 35 selection in the draft in an attempt to bolster their rushing attack, selecting Javonte Williams out of UNC.
An unheralded three-star recruit out of Wallace, North Carolina (about two hours south of Chapel Hill), Williams matriculated to UNC, the only FBS program to offer him a scholarship, in 2018. The Tar Heels never treated Williams as a true workhorse, instead using him in tandem with All-ACC selection Michael Carter. Williams rushed for the sixth-most yards in college football as a junior (1,140) but remarkably didn’t even lead his own team in that stat. A frequent end-zone conqueror, Williams erupted for 22 touchdowns including 19 rushing scores in 2020, the latter mark tying Don McCauley’s longstanding school record set in 1970 (nearly 30 years before Williams was born). The former valedictorian didn’t dress for North Carolina’s Orange Bowl loss to Texas A&M, opting for an early start on draft preparations.
Measurables: 5’10”/212
School: North Carolina
2020 stats: 157 carries, 1,140 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns, 25 catches, 305 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns
Accolades: Second team All-American (2020), Second team All-ACC (2020), tied UNC’s single-season record with 19 rushing touchdowns (2020)
Strengths: Williams was supremely efficient his junior year, averaging a crisp 7.3 yards per carry. A bruiser in the mold of Marshawn Lynch, Williams can torpedo through the teeth of a defense with his chiseled 212-pound frame, shedding blockers at will while maintaining his balance after contact. Williams is near unstoppable on the goal-line and is a deft route runner when called upon in the passing game, even if his hands betray him on occasion. The 21-year-old takes his blocking assignments seriously and has made a concerted effort to improve in that area. Largely confined to a committee role at Carolina, Williams saw just 366 carries throughout his Chapel Hill tenure, leaving him with plenty left in the tank.
Weaknesses: Williams’ relative lack of mileage should serve him well at the next level, though he’s not a burner by any stretch, as evidenced by his lackluster 40 time (4.57). While Williams isn’t a complete liability on the receiving end, it’s certainly not his strong suit (his drop on fourth down late in the Tar Heels’ loss to Florida State arguably cost them the game). Williams coughed it up four times in college, resulting in two turnovers. That’s not an egregious number, though in the NFL, putting it on the ground is a sure way to get in the coach’s doghouse.
NFL comparison: Marshawn Lynch
Williams’ smash-mouth mentality and penchant for pin-balling off defenders is Beast-Mode-esque.
What experts are saying
“Williams is a thick, compact running back with outstanding vision, power and quickness …Williams is a complete player and could emerge as the best running back in the 2021 class.” – Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
“Though Javonte never handled a monster workload at UNC, I have no doubt about his ability to be an all-day three-down NFL bell-cow due to his skillset, versatility, play-style and durability.” – Thor Nystrom, NBC Sports
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