Javonte Williams
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Javonte Williams
| image = Javonte Williams 2021 (51650645333) (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Williams with the Denver Broncos in 2021
| current_team = Dallas Cowboys
| number = 33
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|04|25}}
| birth_place = Wallace, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 220
| high_school = Wallace-Rose Hill {{nowrap|(Teachey, North Carolina)}}
| college = North Carolina (2018–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 35
| pastteams =
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2021|2024}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{nfly|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2021)
- Second-team All-American (2020)
- Second-team All-ACC (2020)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 2,394
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 4.0
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 11
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 158
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 966
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 5
}}
Javonte Williams (born April 25, 2000) is an American professional football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Early life
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 Football Bowl Subdivision offer.{{Cite web |title=Javonte Williams, Wallace-Rose Hill, Running Back |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Javonte-Williams-46046326//high-school-199740 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=247 Sports}}{{Cite web |last=Sprunt |first=James |date=January 31, 2019 |title=From Spartan to Tar Heel |url=https://www.clintonnc.com/sports/36900/from-spartan-to-tar-heel |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Sampson Independent}}{{Cite web |last=Friedlander |first=Brett |date=August 29, 2018 |title=Javonte Williams slated to play in UNC opener |url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/sports/20180829/javonte-williams-slated-to-play-in-unc-opener |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Wilmington Star News}} He graduated as his school’s valedictorian.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Johnathan |date=September 21, 2019 |title=Javonte Williams almost quit football. Now he's a starting running back at UNC. |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/unc-now/article235266537.html |access-date=April 24, 2021 |website=The News & Observer}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Fuller |first=Jackson |date=December 7, 2018 |title=UNC's Javonte Williams ready to compete for championships |url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/sports/20181207/uncs-javonte-williams-ready-to-compete-for-championships |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Wilmington Star News}} As a sophomore in 2019, he played in all 13 games and shared carries with Michael Carter.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Johnathan M. |date=September 21, 2019 |title=Before being named the starter, UNC's Williams almost quit football |url=https://journalnow.com/z-no-digital/before-being-named-the-starter-uncs-williams-almost-quit-football/article_26538ac4-ff61-54da-8012-ec5cc2383702.html |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Winston-Salem Journal}} He ran for 933 yards on 166 carries with five touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Pope IV |first=Jonas |date=July 8, 2020 |title=UNC fans can expect a more confident Javonte Williams at running back in 2020 |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article244079907.html |access-date=October 26, 2021 |website=The News & Observer}} Williams returned to North Carolina in 2020 and again shared carries with Carter.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=C. L. |date=October 21, 2020 |title=Why UNC RB Javonte Williams is learning the passing game. 'I didn't really know much.' |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article246582318.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031053332/https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article246582318.html |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |access-date=October 26, 2021 |website=The News & Observer}} Throughout the 2020 season, Williams was statistically one of the top running backs in the country.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Adam |date=October 29, 2020 |title=Tackling dummies: UNC back Williams plows defenders with power running |url=https://www.thetimesnews.com/story/sports/college/acc/2020/10/29/unc-footballs-javonte-williams-turns-defenders-into-tackling-dummies/6067009002 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=The Times News}} Williams' name was mentioned during the season as a "dark horse" candidate for the 2020 Heisman Trophy.{{Cite web |date=November 24, 2020 |title=Heisman Watch: Kyle Trask and Mac Jones battle for the top spot |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/HeismanWatch201124/heisman-watch-kyle-trask-mac-jones-battle-top-spot |access-date=November 24, 2020 |website=ESPN.com}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Treash |first=Anthony |date=December 21, 2020 |title=College Football 2020: PFF's All-American Team |url=https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2020-pffs-all-american-team |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Pro Football Focus}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Treash |first=Anthony |date=December 23, 2020 |title=College Football 2020: PFF's Conference Players of the Year |url=https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2020-conference-players-of-the-year |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Pro Football Focus}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 2018 | North Carolina
| 11 || 43 || 224 || 5.2 || 22 || 5 || 8 || 58 || 7.3 || 35 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | North Carolina
| 13 || 166 || 933 || 5.6 || 40 || 5 || 17 || 176 || 10.4 || 26 || 1 | ||||||||||
| 2020 | North Carolina
| 11 || 157 || 1,140 || 7.3 || 65 || 19 || 25 || 305 || 12.2 || 41 || 3 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2"|[https://goheels.com/sports/football/roster/javonte-williams/21839 Career] | 35 | 366 | 2,297 | 6.3 | 65 | 29 | 50 | 539 | 10.8 | 41 | 4 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 9 5/8
| weight = 212
| dash = 4.55
| ten split = 1.60
| twenty split = 2.63
| shuttle = 4.09
| cone drill = 6.93
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 3
| bench = 22
| arm span = 30 7/8
| hand span = 9 3/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=Javonte Williams Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/javonte-williams/32005749-4c35-1486-bb3e-8b9e35992111 |access-date=October 21, 2021 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Grant |date=January 23, 2022 |title=How Javonte Williams and Michael Carter Pro Day Numbers Stack Up |url=https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/Article/Javonte-Williams-Michael-Carter-UNC-Football-Pro-Day-NFL-Combine-NFL-Draft-163415312/ |website=247sports.com}}{{Cite web |title=Javonte Williams, North Carolina, RB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1023432&DraftYear=2021 |access-date=October 21, 2021 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
= Denver Broncos =
== 2021 ==
Williams was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round, 35th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Swanson |first=Ben |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Broncos trade up, select RB Javonte Williams with No. 35 pick in 2021 NFL Draft |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/javonte-williams-nfl-draft-running-back-north-carolina |access-date=May 8, 2021 |website=DenverBroncos.com}} Williams signed his four-year rookie contract with Denver on July 23, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Sam |date=July 23, 2021 |title=Broncos Sign Second-Round RB Javonte Williams |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2021/07/broncos-sign-second-round-rb-javonte-williams-wrap-draft-class |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Pro Football Rumors}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos Depth Chart Archive |url=https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/249/DEN |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=www.ourlads.com}}
Williams made his NFL debut in the Broncos' Week 1 victory against the New York Giants, recording 14 carries for 45 yards.{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos at New York Giants - September 12th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202109120nyg.htm |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Williams scored his first professional rushing touchdown against the New York Jets in Week 3, as the Broncos won the game 26–0.{{Cite web |title=New York Jets at Denver Broncos – September 26th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202109260den.htm |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 9, against the Dallas Cowboys, he had his first game going over 100 rushing yards with 111 on 17 carries.{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys – November 7th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202111070dal.htm |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs - December 5th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202112050kan.htm |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Javonte Williams 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillJa10/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2021 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2021.htm |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
== 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.{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks - September 12th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202209120sea.htm |access-date=February 6, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=October 4, 2022 |title=Broncos sign RB Latavius Murray off Saints' practice squad, place RB Javonte Williams and OLB Randy Gregory on IR |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-rb-latavius-murray-off-saints-practice-squad-place-rb-javonte-willi |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=DenverBroncos.com}}
== 2023 ==
In the 2023 season, Williams had 217 carries for a team-high 774 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go with 47 receptions for 228 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in 16 games and 13 starts.{{Cite web |title=2023 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2023.htm |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Javonte Williams 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillJa10/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
== 2024 ==
In the leadup to the 2024 season, there was hope that Williams, now two years removed from his major injury, could potentially reach his rookie-season level of production once again.{{Cite web |last=Kendell |first=Nick |date=2024-08-13 |title=There's Something 'Far Different' About Broncos RB Javonte Williams |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/broncos-javonte-williams-looked-far-different-camp |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Denver Broncos On SI |language=}}{{Cite news |last=Ciely |first=Jake |date=2024-10-25 |title=Tee Higgins, Javonte Williams and more bounce-back targets for fantasy football 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5710641/2024/08/20/fantasy-football-last-years-trash-tee-higgins-javonte-williams/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=The New York Times |language= |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |date=2024-07-25 |title=Broncos' Sean Payton praises slimmed-down Javonte Williams: 'He looked sharp today' |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-sean-payton-praises-slimmed-down-javonte-williams-he-looked-sharp-today |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=NFL.com |language=}} However, after the conclusion of the season the general consensus was Williams had not yet successfully returned to form as a rusher, posting just 513 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on an average of 3.7 yards per carry as the Broncos' primary running back.{{Cite news |last=Kosmider |first=Nick |date=2025-03-10 |title=Javonte Williams’ lackluster play only part of rough start for Broncos’ run game |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5770958/2024/09/17/javonte-williams-broncos-run-game/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=The New York Times |language= |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Jon |date=2025-01-13 |title=10 takeaways from the Broncos' 2024 season |url=https://broncoswire-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/broncos/2025/01/13/denver-broncos-ten-takeaways-from-2024-nfl-season/77666732007/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Broncos Wire |language=}}{{Cite web |last=Cummings |first=Keith |date=2025-01-18 |title=NFL.com Stat 'Signals' RB Javonte Williams' Future with Broncos |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/broncos-javonte-williams-decision-forecasted-nflcom |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Denver Broncos On SI |language=}} Nonetheless, he did produce his best season as a receiving back and blocker, with a career-high 346 receiving yards and 52 receptions.{{Cite web |last=Trickel |first=Erick |date=2025-02-18 |title=Broncos RB Javonte Williams Receives Surprising Ranking via NFL.com |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/broncos-javonte-williams-listed-high-nflcom-rb-rankings |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Denver Broncos On SI |language=}}{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Jon |date=2025-01-11 |title=Javonte Williams wants to re-sign with Broncos in 2025 |url=https://broncoswire-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/broncos/2025/01/11/broncos-news-rb-javonte-williams-wants-to-re-sign-in-2025/77623780007/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Broncos Wire |language=}}
= Dallas Cowboys =
On March 14, 2025, Williams signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys.{{Cite web |last=Yarrish |first=Tommy |date=2025-03-10 |title=Cowboys agree to terms with RB Javonte Williams |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-agree-to-terms-with-rb-javonte-williams |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Dallas Cowboys |language=}}{{Cite news |last=Howe |first=Jeff |last2=Kraft |first2=R. J. |last3=Yousuf |first3=Saad |date=2025-03-10 |title=Cowboys agree to terms with RB Javonte Williams on 1-year deal: Source |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6180864/2025/03/10/javonte-williams-free-agency-signing-2025-cowboys/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |work=The New York Times |language= |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=Free Agency Tracker {{!}} 2025 |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/free-agency-tracker/2025/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Dallas Cowboys |language=}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Regular Season ! rowspan="2" |Year ! rowspan="2" |Team ! colspan="2" |Games ! colspan="5" |Rushing ! colspan="5" |Receiving ! colspan="2" |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 || 7.3 || 42 || 3 | 2 || 1 | |||||||||||
| 2022 || DEN
| 4 || 4 || 47 || 204 || 4.3 || 17 || 0 | 16 || 76 || 4.8 || 13 || 0 | 1 || 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 || DEN
| 16 || 13 || 217 || 774 || 3.6 || 21 || 3 | 47 || 228 || 4.9 || 18 || 2 | 1 || 1 | |||||||||||
| 2024 || DEN
| 17 || 11 || 139 || 513 || 3.7 || 20 || 4 | 52 || 346 || 6.7 || 34 || 0 | 2 || 2 | |||||||||||
| colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillJa10.htm Career]
! 54 | 29 | 606 | 2,394 | 4.0 | 49 | 11
! 158 | 966 | 6.1 | 42 | 5
! 6 | 5 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Footballstats |nfl=javonte-williams|espn=4361579|pfr=W/WillJa10|yahoo=33423}}
- [https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/players-roster/javonte-williams/ Dallas Cowboys bio]
- [https://goheels.com/sports/football/roster/javonte-williams/21839 North Carolina Tar Heels bio]
{{Dallas Cowboys roster navbox}}
{{Broncos2021DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Javonte}}
Category:People from Wallace, North Carolina
Category:Players of American football from North Carolina
Category:American football running backs
Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football players