Javonte Williams - Tar Heel Turning Heads

By: Hussam Patel

Juice's Top Running Backs Series

Javonte Williams was actually a run stopper before he turned into a RB, playing as a linebacker in high school, and converting to a RB at North Carolina. Understanding blocking concepts due to his time as a linebacker, Williams developed a sense of patience, he waited for his linemen to make open holes, and then ran straight through them. 

Javonte Williams is excellent at using stride variation and mobile hips to keep tacklers off his legs. These types of micromovements distinguish elite NFL tackle breakers. pic.twitter.com/wgoUWlitKr

— J Moyer (@JMoyerFB) February 4, 2021

Williams can make the smallest of gaps look like a truck could fit through it. He can be a slasher, cutting on a dime through a hole in a defense and gashing it for a massive gain. He is compactly built, using his low center of gravity to cut sharply and play with excellent contact balance. 

You can officially call me a BIG fan of Javonte Williams. This is one of my favorite runs from last year. Just awesome vision, balance, effort, footwork, and burst after contact here. This is run is just stupid good. pic.twitter.com/UJZG19ENH8

— Jared Feinberg (@JrodDraftScout) February 4, 2021

He is a very hard and physical runner, frequently breaking or bouncing off tackles for significant yards after contact. The Tar Heel Running back is a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield as well, frequently running check-downs, flats, slants and Texas concepts. He has excellent hands, helping out his quarterback as a receiver in pressure situations. 

My Lawd.

Javonte Williams is Fun to Watch.

Burst, Tackle Breaking Ability, & although I know people don’t care DUDE has Pass Pro Chops.

He is gonna make his QB in the NFL very happy. pic.twitter.com/DGDfcYhOjc

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) February 9, 2021

Williams is not a blow-by runner who will separate with speed; he will churn out yardage with his hard-nosed running and stiff arms to shed tackles. To be a consistent three-down running back, he’ll need to get better at his pass protection to be able to play in crunch-time moments