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UNC Football: Javonte Williams earns PFF’s highest running back honor

By Blake Cockrum

ANNAPOLIS, MD - DECEMBER 27: Javonte Williams #25 of the North Carolina Tar Heels rushes the ball against the Temple Owls in the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2019 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
ANNAPOLIS, MD - DECEMBER 27: Javonte Williams #25 of the North Carolina Tar Heels rushes the ball against the Temple Owls in the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2019 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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UNC football’s Javonte Williams was overlooked by the national media, but Pro Football Focus named him the top running back of 2020.

Despite getting almost no respect or recognition from the national media, North Carolina junior running back Javonte Williams has been awarded Pro Football Focus’s highest honor among players at his position.

On Tuesday, the publication named Williams the 2020 Doak Walker Award winner, recognizing him as the nation’s best running back. He earned the honor over the likes of Alabama’s Najee Harris, Iowa State’s Breece Hall, Clemson’s Travis Etienne, and even his own back field running mate, Michael Carter, Jr.

"“Williams not even being named as a finalist for the Doak Walker Award is truly head-scratching,” PFF’s Anthony Treash writes. “He just had one of the most productive years we have ever seen at the position and came away with the highest rushing grade of the PFF College era (95.9).”"

And Treash is right about Williams, who put up video game-like numbers for the Tar Heels all 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 over the last six years. On top of his gaudy rushing numbers, 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.

Shortly after his 236-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Miami Hurricanes on December 12, Williams declared for the 2021 NFL Draft, and announced that he would be opting out of the Tar Heels’ appearance in the Capital One Orange Bowl. It’s understandable why’d he do so, given that his terrific play in 2020 has vaulted him up draft boards and into a position to potentially get selected in the first round.

Carter, similar to Williams, chose to opt out of the game, too, as did junior wide receiver Dyami Brown and senior linebacker Chazz Surratt. All four will more than likely get selected in the upcoming draft, with Surratt being a probable first-rounder, and closely followed by Williams.

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