UNC Football: Williams and Carter ranked as top rookie running backs

After dominating at the college level, former UNC football standouts Javonte Williams and Michael Carter continue to thrive in the NFL.

If you watched Javonte Williams and Michael Carter play for the UNC football program during their time in Chapel Hill, you saw first-hand the NFL potential that both running backs possessed.

Now that their rookie seasons are almost complete, both players are starting to take the league by storm.

Although they are no longer the dynamic duo that we watched thrive at North Carolina, both players are making names for themselves with their respective teams. Heading into Week 17 of the season, Pro Football Focus ranks the former Tar Heels as the top-rated rookie running backs in 2021.

After being selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Javonte Williams was a guy who many viewed as one of, if not the, best running backs in the class. Even while splitting reps with veteran Melvin Gordon, Williams has shown why he has the chance to be an impact player for many years to come.

Through 15 games played, the 21-year-old has recorded 177 carries for 827 yards. Similar to his time at North Carolina, Williams has also been very active in the passing game, as he currently has 40 receptions 296 yards. The former Tar Heel has also been a regular in the end zone, as he has seven combined touchdowns during his rookie campaign.

Unlike Williams, Carter wasn’t a top pick in the draft class. However, the versatile back has found a home with the New York Jets, a match that seems to be close to a perfect fit for the former UNC football standout.

The Jets have been in a rebuild mode and started the process with new head coach Robert Saleh this offseason. Saleh, who came from the San Francisco 49ers, brought along Mike LaFleur to be his offensive coordinator, as they hoped to run a similar offensive style to what both were working without on the west coast.

Simply put, the system relies on a lot of play-action, and is utilized best when the team has multiple running backs to share the load. Although the Jets have actively tried to use a “running back by committee” approach, it’s been Carter who has quickly developed into the team’s top option at the position.

Although he’s missed a few games due to an ankle injury, Carter is still having a very productive season. Through 12 games played, the former Tar Heel has 566 yards through the ground and an additional 316 through the air, as he’s on pace to have 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his rookie campaign. Carter hasn’t been used much in the red zone, but he still has four rushing touchdowns to his name so far.

Against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, Carter rushed for over 100 yards in a single game for the first time in his NFL career. Based on how he’s performed so far as a Jet, it isn’t a stretch to say that we’ll be seeing many more of those from the former Tar Heel in the future.

Carter and Williams thriving at the NFL level is a great look for the UNC football program. Given what we’ve seen so far, it appears as if their respective teams have found long-term solutions at the running back position.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates regarding Michael Carter, Javonte Williams and the rest of the UNC football program.