Javonte Williams

Javonte Williams (born April 25, 2000) is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Broncos in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Javonte Williams
refer to caption
Williams with the Denver Broncos in 2021
No. 33 – Denver Broncos
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (2000-04-25) April 25, 2000
Wallace, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Wallace-Rose Hill
(Teachey, North Carolina)
College:North Carolina (2018–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 35
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Rushing yards:1,107
Rushing average:4.4
Rushing touchdowns:4
Receptions:59
Receiving yards:392
Receiving touchdowns:3
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Williams attended Wallace-Rose Hill High School in Teachey, North Carolina. As a senior, he rushed for 2,271 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. He committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his only FBS offer.[1][2][3] He graduated as his school’s valedictorian.[4]

College career

As a true freshman at North Carolina in 2018, Williams played in 11 games, rushing 43 times for 224 yards and five touchdowns.[5] As a sophomore in 2019, he played in all 13 games and shared carries with Michael Carter.[6] He ran for 933 yards on 166 carries with five touchdowns.[7] Williams returned to North Carolina in 2020 and again shared carries with Carter.[8] Throughout the 2020 season, Williams was statistically one of the top running backs in the country.[9] Williams' name was mentioned during the season as a "dark horse" candidate for the 2020 Heisman Trophy.[10] Against Miami (FL), Williams and backfield counterpart Carter combined for an NCAA-record 544 rushing yards as a duo in the Tar Heels' 62–26 blowout victory. Williams and Carter were both named to the 2020 Pro Football Focus First-team All-America at the running back position.[11] PFF also named him the 2020 ACC Football Player of the Year with a record-breaking 95.9 PFF rushing grade, the highest rushing grade in a single season since the site began covering college players.[12]

Career statistics
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GP Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
2018 UNC 11 43 224 5.2 22 5 8 58 7.3 35 0
2019 UNC 13 166 933 5.6 40 5 17 176 10.4 26 1
2020 UNC 11 157 1,140 7.3 65 19 25 305 12.2 41 3
Total 35 366 2,297 6.3 65 29 50 539 10.8 41 4

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 9+5⁄8 in
(1.77 m)		 212 lb
(96 kg)		 30+7⁄8 in
(0.78 m)		 9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.55 s1.60 s2.63 s4.09 s6.93 s36.0 in
(0.91 m)		10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)		22 reps
All values from Pro Day[13][14][15]

Williams was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round, 35th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft.[16] Williams signed his four-year rookie contract with Denver on July 23, 2021.[17]

2021 season: Rookie year

Heading into his first training camp, Williams competed with Royce Freeman and Mike Boone for the backup running back role. After the Broncos released Freeman during final roster cuts, they officially named Williams the backup running back, behind veteran starter Melvin Gordon.[18]

Williams made his NFL debut in the Broncos' Week 1 victory against the New York Giants, recording 14 carries for 45 yards.[19] Williams scored his first professional rushing touchdown against the New York Jets in Week 3, as the Broncos won the game 26–0.[20] In Week 9, against the Dallas Cowboys, he had his first game going over 100 rushing yards with 111 on 17 carries.[21] Williams received his first career start in Week 12 against the Kansas City Chiefs, as he replaced an injured Melvin Gordon. Williams finished the game with 23 carries for 102 yards, six receptions for 76 yards and a receiving touchdown, though the Broncos lost the game 22–9.[22]

Overall, Williams finished his rookie season appearing in all 17 games (one start) and recorded 203 carries for 903 yards (4.4 YPC) and four rushing touchdowns plus 43 receptions for 319 yards and three receiving touchdowns.[23]

2022

In Week 1, Williams had 108 scrimmage yards and a lost fumble in the 16–17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. In the loss, he had 11 receptions.[24] During Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Williams went down with a knee injury and left the game. It was later revealed that he suffered tears to the ACL, LCL, and posterolateral corner. The injury prematurely ended his 2022 season.[25]

NFL career statistics
Regular Season
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2021 DEN 17 1 203 903 4.4 49 4 43 316 7.4 42 3 2 1
2022 DEN 4 4 47 204 4.3 17 0 16 76 4.8 13 0 1 1
Career 21 5 250 1,107 4.4 49 4 59 392 6.6 42 3 3 2

References
  1. "Javonte Williams, Wallace-Rose Hill, Running Back". 247 Sports. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  2. Sprunt, James (January 31, 2019). "From Spartan to Tar Heel". Sampson Independent. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  3. Friedlander, Brett (August 29, 2018). "Javonte Williams slated to play in UNC opener". Wilmington Star News. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  4. Alexander, Johnathan (September 21, 2019). "Javonte Williams almost quit football. Now he's a starting running back at UNC". The News & Observer. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  5. Fuller, Jackson (December 7, 2018). "UNC's Javonte Williams ready to compete for championships". Wilmington Star News. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  6. Alexander, Johnathan M. (September 21, 2019). "Before being named the starter, UNC's Williams almost quit football". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  7. Pope IV, Jonas (July 8, 2020). "UNC fans can expect a more confident Javonte Williams at running back in 2020". The News & Observer. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  8. Brown, C. L. (October 21, 2020). "Why UNC RB Javonte Williams is learning the passing game. 'I didn't really know much.'". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  9. Smith, Adam (October 29, 2020). "Tackling dummies: UNC back Williams plows defenders with power running". The Times News. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  10. "Heisman Watch: Kyle Trask and Mac Jones battle for the top spot". ESPN.com. November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  11. Treash, Anthony (December 21, 2020). "College Football 2020: PFF's All-American Team". Pro Football Focus. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  12. Treash, Anthony (December 23, 2020). "College Football 2020: PFF's Conference Players of the Year". Pro Football Focus. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  13. "Javonte Williams Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  14. Hughes, Grant (January 23, 2022). "How Javonte Williams and Michael Carter Pro Day Numbers Stack Up". 247sports.com.
  15. "Javonte Williams, North Carolina, RB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  16. Swanson, Ben (April 30, 2021). "Broncos trade up, select RB Javonte Williams with No. 35 pick in 2021 NFL Draft". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  17. Robinson, Sam (July 23, 2021). "Broncos Sign Second-Round RB Javonte Williams". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  18. "Denver Broncos Depth Chart Archive". www.ourlads.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  19. "Denver Broncos at New York Giants - September 12th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  20. "New York Jets at Denver Broncos – September 26th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  21. "Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys – November 7th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  22. "Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs - December 5th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  23. "Javonte Williams 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  24. "Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks - September 12th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  25. DiLalla, Aric (October 4, 2022). "Broncos sign RB Latavius Murray off Saints' practice squad, place RB Javonte Williams and OLB Randy Gregory on IR". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
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