How Broncos Javonte Williams went from unheralde small-town running back to NFL draft pick.
College coaches at North Carolina State and beyond didn’t think Williams would be a Division I running back
Four years before Javonte Williams became the Broncos’ second overall pick, Wallace-Rose Hill (N.C.) coach Kevin Motsinger called every college coach he knew about his star running back. Nobody listened.
Those coaches in North Carolina and beyond didn’t see Williams as an FBS quarterback.
Zamir White or Javonte Williams Not big enough
I went to a school that was too small. Didn’t play against good competition. Had only one year back after three years at linebacker.
Motsinger heard it all in 2017, before Williams’ career at North Carolina led the Broncos to select “Pookie” — as he’s affectionately known in his hometown of Wallace — No. 35 overall.
“That was the same year that Zamir White left North Carolina for Georgia, and he was No. 1 in the country Motinsger said in a phone interview with The Denver Post. I told all the big shows about ‘Pookie but nobody really wanted to hear it.
Zamir White or Javonte Williams I told everybody I am telling you
Javonte is better than Zamir. I have a pretty good reputation with these college coaches, and these people know that I am a straight shooter, and I’ve never lied to them, when it’s about letting recruits play.
But I remember a Division I coach saying, ‘Mot, you’ve never lied to me before, but I think you just lied to me for the first time.’ Or you’ve lost your (expletive) mind.'”
As it turned out, Motsinger was still in control of his abilities. And what college coaches didn’t want to hear, they would soon see for themselves.
In December 2017
Williams led Wallace-Rose Hill to its fourth straight state title — on the Tar Heels’ home field, no less, and ranked higher than the first three titles.
The three-star recruit ran for 207 yards and two touchdowns, including a 73-yard score on the first play of the game.
North Carolina offered a scholarship shortly thereafter. Adding to his late recruiting appeal was Williams’ dedication to the weight room as a senior.
In the spring of his freshman year, Motsinger said the tailback weighed 187 pounds. In the late fall, he checked in around 9 p.m. and “was much faster.”
“Everything happened so fast (last fall),” Williams said. After that I didn’t even go to high school because I graduated early.
When Williams arrived
on campus in Chapel Hill, he emerged as a backup, but his real breakthrough came as a sophomore.
North Carolina offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who was hired after Williams’ freshman year, remembers watching film of the running back in high school and thinking, “It was amazing how unrecruited Javonte was.”
And he remembers another thought going through his head: North Carolina needed to use Williams more, even though the Tar Heels already had a first-round pick in Michael Carter drafted in the fourth round by the Jets this year.
“He hadn’t played a lot and wasn’t a starter. Michael Carter was the returning running back with little game experience,” Longo said. “But I thought Javonte was a very exciting running back because he was very versatile (with his skills).”
Williams’ breakout moment was UNC’s 2019 opener, when the then-sophomore rushed for 108 yards on 18 carries against South Carolina. Longo said Williams started to develop college confidence in the spring and it showed right away in the fall.
I remember talking to him after (spring) practice and one of the things that was said to me was that he wasnt super confident or super confident in how he was playing, Longo said.
I told him, ‘listen, if you ever really develop confidence, you’re going to be a great player,’ because he was really talented. I think he just wanted to show that he could play before the South Carolina game. Zamir White or Javonte Williams
After a strong 2019 Williams had
a productive 2020, sharing the load with Carter again. Williams was named the Tar Heels’ offensive MVP and earned first-team AP All-ACC.
I got to know the playbook better and got to know the game better Williams said. “It helped me play a lot faster (in 2020).”
The 21-year-old was ranked the best player in the country by Pro Football Focus and led the nation with 75 tackles avoided.
He also ranked second in rushing yards over 10 yards (42) and third in rushing first downs (72) while racking up 1,140 rushing yards and a program-record 22 total touchdowns.
That statistical explosion, combined with his lack of attrition in a painful position, led Broncos general manager George Paton to trade up five spots in the second round to take Williams.
Denver’s trade gave the Falcons the No. 35 overall pick, one spot ahead of the Dolphins, one of a handful of teams known to have interest in Williams.
“When they pick me up in the second round, I feel like I have to give something back,” Williams said. “I have to come every day, work hard and show what I can do. Zamir White or Javonte Williams
In high school will wear No.33
for Denver. He was in Dove Valley this weekend for the Broncos’ rookie minicamp.
“Here’s a kid who only hit the ball for one year in high school and then took a break at Carolina,” Motsinger said.
These tires have a lot of tread because they don not really spin. Statistically and based on all the analysis, an insurance company would say it’s safer to last longer.”
The Broncos are relying on Williams to complement and eventually replace veteran running back Melvin Gordon. The 28-year-old veteran is in the final year of his contract after rushing for 986 yards and nine touchdowns the 2020.
“We like his skill set and think he’s a good all-around defender, Broncos coach Vic Fangio said. He can run the ball inside he has good contact balance (and) he can protect passes which is very important the backfield.
And he can run a route and catch the ball out of the backfield. We think he has a good chance to be very good player for us.Click more
