UNC Football: Tar Heel running backs finally get the respect they deserve

UNC Football tandem finally gets the respect it deserves, as both Michael Carter, Jr. and Javonte Williams are named first team All-Americans by Pro Football Focus

Just a day after the North Carolina Tar Heels received an invitation to the Capital One Orange Bowl — marking their first involvement in a major bowl game in 71 years — their star running back duo was finally properly acknowledged for just how historically great it is.

Both Michael Carter, Jr and Javonte Williams have been named first team All-Americans by Pro Football Focus, the site announced on Monday morning. Yes, North Carolina fans, it’s a pair of UNC running backs finally getting the respect they deserve over the likes of Alabama’s Najee Harris, Virginia Tech’s Khalil Herbert or Clemson’s Travis Etienne — though the latter hasn’t been nearly as dynamic this season, and didn’t receive a first, second or third team bid from PFF.

"“North Carolina legitimately had one of the best backfields in the history of college football this season with Williams and Michael Carter,” PFF’s Anthony Treash writes. “The two rank first and second in the FBS in the percentage of runs that resulted in a 10-plus-yard gain — at 26.8% and 26.1%, respectively — with both figures nearly doubling the FBS average.”"

Williams, as Treash mentions in his write-up of the outstanding junior running back, “put up video game-like numbers” for the Tar Heels this season en route to 19 rushing touchdowns. He did it at a 7.3 yard-per-carry clip, and broke more tackles per attempt than any running back in the last six years. Just for good measure, Williams added 305 yards and three touchdowns through the air to his fantastic season, and he did it at better than 12 yards per reception — a terrific average for a running back.

All Carter did was rack up some of the best numbers for a dual threat running back that we’ve seen in recent history. He ran for 1,245 yards at an 8.0 yard-per-carry average this season, and scored nine rushing touchdowns despite playing alongside fellow first team All-American Javonte Williams. He tore off another 267 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver, averaging 10.7 yards per reception.

Following the announcement of his first team All-American selection on Monday morning, Carter released a statement on Twitter that he would forego the Orange Bowl, and officially enter his name into the 2021 NFL Draft.

Williams, however, will have the opportunity to go out in grand fashion under the bright lights of the Orange Bowl and in front of a massive audience — be it in person or on national TV. Will Texas A&M be able to do what most ACC teams have not been able to this season and stop Williams from running all over the field on January 2? Or will the standout junior back carry North Carolina to its most significant bowl victory in decades on his way to the 2021 NFL Draft?

Stick with Keeping It Heel for more on the Tar Heels’ upcoming Orange Bowl appearance, and everything UNC football.