Top 10 running backs in the 2021 NFL Draft

#3 2021 NFL Draft Prospect: Javonte Williams (North Carolina)

[5’10”, 220 pounds; JR]

Javonte Williams

Once only a three-star recruit, Javonte Williams has increased his production every year and had one of the most fun 2020 seasons of any college back.

After some limited time as a freshman, Williams went for just over 1100 scrimmage yards and 16 TDs on 183 touches in 2019. That went up to 1445 yards on 7.9 yards per touch, to go with a ridiculous 22 touchdowns last year. Even more impressive was that he put up those numbers despite being part of a true one-two punch with teammate Michael Carter Jr., whose name will come up momentarily.

Firstly, Javonte Williams presents an excellent build and is arguably the most physical players in the 2021 NFL Draft.

He runs with low pads and high knees, pulling those legs through contact. Thanks to his strong lower body, he has guys slip off him routinely, and he can regain his balance after stumbles.

Williams will make his presence felt by dropping his shoulder on an awaiting defender, and if guys attempt half-hearted wraps, that results in yards after contact. Moreover, he has one of the best dead-legs in the country to change things up.

Javonte Williams uses his off-arm well to pull through and stiff-arm defenders. He slips through small openings and comes out of a pile without anybody seeing him on the broadcast. That makes him a specialist for short-yardage situations on third and fourth down while also clearly having a nose for the end-zone.

Williams does a good job of peeking one way behind a block and then bending it the other way once he gets a defender to commit. He has superb vision and the ability to force second-level defenders to leverage themselves too much. Yet, when he darts upfield and has to work through contact, he becomes a bowling ball.

The way he literally tanks through defenders is just absurd. At times, having three defenders in his way for a first down or touchdown, with Williams perfectly leveraged, that guy just goes through them – and his teammates - if necessary.

It might be that number 25, but Williams reminds me a little bit of Clyde Edwards-Helaire, thanks to his violent and overall style he runs with. He averages an insane 4.6 yards after contact, forcing an FBS-best 75 missed tackles.

Williams was second among NFL draft-eligible backs with 27 carries of 15+ yards. He had an absolutely ridiculous run against Miami in 2020. He and his running mate Michael Carter Jr. racked up about 550 yards rushing combined. Williams seemingly broke tackles from every single defender on the field.

What really stands out is how he can string moves together and integrate different aspects as a ball-carrier. In the pass game, he was targeted quite a bit on swing routes, and he is a tough tackle out in the flats for cheap yardage.

If he was on any offense that doesn't have arguably the top receiving back in the class in Michael Carter Jr., he would have probably caught 40-50 passes. And as a protector, Williams has a sturdy base to swallow charging blitzes and plenty good footwork to stay in front of them as they try to side-step him.

Nevertheless, Williams lacks that true breakaway speed and doesn’t necessarily explode through the hole like other guys do. He certainly benefited from being in a spread-oriented Tar Heel offense, with many playmakers around him presenting him with light boxes and making his punishing running style even more deadly.

His skill-set does project well to the next level, but he can really only run inside and outside zone from shotgun alignment to go with some sweep-like plays. He will have to learn how to use pulling linemen and his pace to make more gap-oriented schemes work. And I already made the ACC argument of Williams having by far his worst game last season against the one good defense in Notre Dame – he tallied 11 carries for 28 yards.

I think everybody out there has Najee Harris and Travis Etienne numbers one and two in either order. I feel equally as strong about who the next name up is. There is really not much to find on tape that discourages me about Williams.

He is not a true burner, but most of my question marks are about what he wasn’t asked to do and how much he benefited from being in that UNC offense. I think Williams could fit into any NFL system. But he would be best-suited for a zone-run based offense, where he can build up momentum, make that one cut and bring the thunder.