While many have improved their draft stock this season, maybe no player has more than Javonte Williams. Even though he is splitting time with Michael Carter for the Tarheels, Williams has made the most of his opportunities. Now, he’s thought of as a mid-day two candidate thanks to his explosiveness and play-style, especially after his game against Miami.
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Player Bio
Name: Javonte Williams
Jersey: #25
Position: Running Back
School: North Carolina
Class: Junior
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 220 lbs
Vision (9.5/10)
Williams lets his blockers do the work and follows the blocks. Patient, and it works to his advantage. Can make the smallest of gaps look like a truck could fit through it.
Change of Direction (9/10)
He can easily make one cut and go. Williams can cut on a dime and find the hole in the defense and gash them for a massive gain in the blink of an eye.
Durability (8/10)
Williams only has five career games with over 20 touches. Williams split time with Michael Carter at North Carolina, and it has benefitted both of them. With that said, he doesn’t have a lot of mileage on him, which NFL teams will like. Williams only has 182 touches this year, most of his collegiate career. For comparison, Josh Jacobs had 140 in his junior year, and he was selected at the back-end of the first round.
Receiving Skills (8.75/10)
He has 25 catches in his first two years, 25 catches this year alone. Hands-catcher that can help in the flat and in checkdowns.
Ball Security (6.5/10)
Williams has struggled a bit in this regard dating back to high school. In 2019, he had three fumbles, including two against Duke. This year, he has been better but still has struggled as he fumbled once this year. While it has been more controllable this year, the fact it was once there is a bit worrisome.
Elusiveness (10/10)
Don’t give him a lane to run through, or else it’ll be a potential touchdown. His quick burst and excellent vision make him almost impossible to track down. Not a guy who will break your ankles, but will instead run right through you.
Effort (10/10)
He gives it his all on every play. Williams doesn’t stop churning his legs and always fights for extra yards, even hurdling and trucking defenders in his path.
Athleticism (9.25/10)
He was a track star in high school. Williams will likely run between a mid 4.3 and high 4.4 in the 40. With that speed and power that he has, he will be a hot commodity in the draft.
Balance (9.5/10)
Williams is rarely knocked off balance, and when he is, he regains it quickly. It takes multiple defenders to bring him down, and he never goes down easy.
Pass Protection (2.5/5)
He can certainly work on his pass protection. He seems to be a bit lost in this area and can tend to let some free rushers run past him.
Injury (5/5)
Williams had no reported injuries during his collegiate career.
Player Summary
Williams is in the conversation with Travis Etienne and Najee Harris for the top running back in the class. He has a three-down skill set thanks to his receiving ability and can immediately provide an effect that Jacobs, Jonathan Taylor, and some other young running backs have produced for their teams. His best skills are his vision and elusiveness, and the biggest weaknesses of his game are his ball security and pass protection, both of which can be fixed with practice. While running back is the easiest position to find in the league, Williams is listed as a first-round talent for me and likely won’t be drafted until the second round.
Oh no 😧😳 #CarolinaFootball 🏈 #BeTheOne pic.twitter.com/IelAdR5Mjs
— Carolina Football (@TarHeelFootball) December 14, 2020
Final Grade (88/100): Mid First-Round Pick
Player Comparison: Le’Veon Bell
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