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UNC Football: Javonte Williams named to All-Rookie Team

By Blake Cockrum

DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 19: Javonte Williams #33 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field At Mile High on December 19, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 19: Javonte Williams #33 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field At Mile High on December 19, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Former UNC football standout Javonte Williams had an impressive rookie season with the Denver Broncos.

Following an impressive first season with the Denver Broncos, Javonte Williams has been named to the NFL’s 2021 All-Rookie Team.

The former North Carolina standout and 2020 second team All-American put together a terrific performance over his first 17 professional games that saw him carry the ball 203 times for 903 yards — just 15 fewer than veteran running back Melvin Gordon III — and four rushing touchdowns. Williams also caught 43 passes for 316 yards — an average of 7.3 yards per catch — and three touchdowns.

"Williams has been the perfect complement to Melvin Gordon in the Broncos’ backfield, with the rookie pacing the pair with 4.7 yards per carry,” writes NFL.com analyst David Carr. “The 5-foot-10, 220-pound Williams has made defenders pay with his strong, physical running style, as evidenced by his 59 missed tackles forced on runs (tied for the league lead with Jonathan Taylor), per Pro Football Focus. With Gordon set to become a free agent this offseason, Williams has proven he can be Denver’s RB1 for years to come and ranks 10th in the league in rushing yards (827)."

Williams rushed for more than 100 yards on two occasions this season, once in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys (17 carriers for 111 yards) and again in Week 13 against the Kansas City Chiefs (23 carries for 102 yards). He fumbled the ball just twice on the season and only lost it once.

Williams entered his Week 18 game against the Chiefs with 60 missed tackles forced, more than any other rookie in the league. He also boasts the highest rate of missed tackles forced per rushing attempt at better than 30 percent. He was also No. 1 in the league in broken tackles at 31.

Williams entered the 2021 season as PFF’s 22nd-ranked fantasy option at running back but will begin next season at No. 10. His rise in fantasy ranking was second only to another former Tar Heel, Michael Carter, who went from No. 30 at the start of this season to No. 12 for next season.

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For more on Javonte Williams and other former UNC football players throughout the playoffs and the offseason, check back with Keeping It Heel.

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