2019 UNC Football Preview: Running back

We take a look at the running back position for the UNC Football program for the 2019 season as it might be the deepest position on the roster

QB |

The North Carolina Tar Heels enter the 2019 season with three very good running backs in their backfield. It’s no doubt the best position group on not only the offense but possibly the entire team.

Antonio Williams (Senior), Michael Carter (Junior) and Javonte Williams (sophomore) all return to the team in 2019, giving UNC a loaded backfield. With a team that is in a rebuild and question marks surrounding the quarterback position, the running backs could be the difference in whether or not this offense is successful or not.

Getting good play from the running back position will help take the pressure off the quarterbacks and all three should contribute this season. Let’s take a look at the running back position in our 2019 preview:

WHAT WE KNOW

This is the deepest position on the offense as the Tar Heels have three guys capable of being a starter at the position and make an impact for this team. UNC will rotate the three with packages throughout the year barring any injuries, and we could see them on the field at the same time depending on what offensive coordinator Phil Longo wants to do.

Head coach Mack Brown talked about his trio of backs at the position and didn’t shy away from calling it like it is:

"“That’s our best group right now without question,” Mack said via WRAL. “You take Michael Carter and Javonte Williams and Antonio Wiliams and they can play anywhere. They’re all really good players.”"

What I look at with this position is their pass-catching abilities. We know what each of them can do running the football but how will they factor in as pass-catchers out of the backfield?

For this role, I can see both Carter and Javonte Williams having the biggest impact while Antonio Williams being more of a big, short-yardage back.

With this new air raid offense, the backs will be asked to do more especially as receivers out of the backfield. Already during training camp, Carter is seeing the effects of being in this type of offense via WRAL:

"Carter said, “Now we’re out there and we’re true receivers, real live receivers. We’re expected to catch the ball.”The UNC running backs say that they are catching the ball 40 percent of the time and running it 60 percent of the time.Carter smiled, “Running backs, when we go home, we work on catching the ball too. So it’s not like, ‘Oh we’re gonna catch now? Better go get some gloves.'”"

This offense is designed to put up a lot of points whole getting up and down the field in a hurry this season. With playmakers at the running back position, the Tar Heels offense could be more dangerous than expected in 2019.

THE KEY PLAYERS

Michael Carter

The Florida native returns for his third season with the Tar Heels and he is looking to breakout on the national scene. After flashing signs of his potential as a freshman and sophomore, Carter is hoping to put it all together in 2019.

He burst onto the scene in the Week 1 loss to Cal back in 2017, rushing for 94 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. Carter then put together the most impressive game of his career to date later that year when he rushed for 157 yards and 2 scores on just 13 attempts.

Going into 2018, Carter was predicted to be a breakout player before a hand injury caused him to miss the first three games of the season. Still, he was able to put together a campaign in which he averaged 7.1 yards per carry.

Now as we go into 2019, Carter was once again labeled as a breakout player and his speed is just what this UNC offense needs. If Carter can have that breakout season and become one of the best backs in the conference, it would take a lot of pressure off of whoever wins the starting quarterback job. With a good mix of speed, hands and balance, Carter is no doubt one of the top playmakers on this roster.

2018 stats: 84 attempts, 597 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

Javonte Williams

Like Carter, Williams also had a big impact in his freshman season with the Tar Heels. But did so in 2018. The former three-star recruit appeared in six games for the Tar Heels in 2018, rushing for 93 yards against Western Carolina and 83 against N.C. State in the season-finale. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry as a freshman.

Now going into 2019, Williams is hoping to build off his strong finish from last season. Per Inside Carolina’s Ross Martin, Williams was one of the standouts at UNC’s Spring Game averaging 8.5 yards per carry.

At 5-foot-10, 220-pounds, Williams has a unique combo of strength and speed that you don’t see often. His speed allows him to break away while his strength gives him the ability to run through tackles. Not only is Williams a good runner but he has good hands and can make a difference as a pass-catcher.

2018 stats: 43 attempts, 224 yards, and 5 touchdowns.

Antonio Williams 

The 5-foot-11, 211-pound Williams transferred out of Ohio State in 2017 and decided to return home to North Carolina and join the Tar Heels. He was a former UNC commit early in his recruitment and now finds himself as one of three backs that should make a big impact for the Tar Heels in 2019.

Williams started off hot in the 2018 season, rushing for 257 yards and three touchdowns in his first three games. That included 96 yards on 6 carries against ECU before he was ejected for targeting on a play downfield.  But he started to slow down a bit as the season went on and did miss the final two games of the season vs. WCU and N.C. State.

The running back does have a “run downhill” mentality and doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s UNC’s wrecking ball in the backfield and is a good change of pace back from the speedy backs in Carter and Javonte Williams. We won’t see Williams go for 1,000 yards but he will be a good complimentary option, especially on short yardage downs in 2019.

2018 stats: 91 attempts, 504 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The rest

Josh Henderson was the lone running back commit for UNC’s 2019 class, ranked as a three-star recruit out of New Jersey. It’s likely going to be a redshirt year for Henderson barring any injuries, which is fine because the Tar Heels do have three good backs ahead of him.

Getting that experience early on will help Henderson and he should be competing for a role in 2020.

British Brooks enters his second season with the Tar Heels after appearing in six games as a running back and on special teams. He finished with 57 yards in the win over Western Carolina in 2018.

OUTLOOK

I’m expecting big things from this position in 2019 if they can stay healthy. That’s going to be the biggest key for this unit moving forward and if they can avoid any major injuries, they could be one of the top units in the entire conference.

With Longo installing his Air Raid offense, we should see these backs catching a lot more passes out of the backfield. That could include lining up Carter as a wide receiver on some sets, giving more opportunities for Antonio and Javonte. Right away we should get a good look at what to expect in the season opener against South Carolina.

Even if this position doesn’t have one guy that gets 1,000 yards from scrimmage, it’s going to be a collective effort. It could work with this trio each doing their job this season.

Expect big things from this position…

DEPTH CHART

Starter: Michael Carter
Backup: Javonte Williams, Antonio Williams
Reserves: Josh Henderson, British Brooks