University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Have A Day, Javonte
November 19, 2018 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
There came a time late last year when Javonte Williams' patience finally wore thin.
A star running back and safety at Wallace-Rose Hill High School in Teachey, N.C., he entered his senior season having led the Bulldogs to three 2A state championships. He'd claimed MVP honors each time. Still, despite his gaudy numbers, he hadn't received a scholarship offer.
Williams later earned one from Coastal Carolina. But without an FBS offer as his high school career neared its end, the 4.0 GPA student and Wallace-Rose Hill's nominee for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship began considering a life without football.
"I was just thinking about going to school to be a regular student," said Williams, who started planning to attend North Carolina as a biology major. "I was telling my mom, 'I think I'm just going to give football up,' because I didn't really have the offers that I thought I deserved. But she just told me to keep pushing and keep praying."
And eventually, his patience paid off.
After Williams capped his high school career with an MVP performance in the 2017 state title game, held in Kenan Stadium, the Tar Heels offered him a scholarship. He immediately accepted. He then enrolled at UNC in January and impressed Carolina's coaches throughout the offseason.
Because of the Tar Heels' running back depth, Williams didn't receive many opportunities in his first nine games to show fans what the coaches see in him, carrying the ball 10 times for 48 yards. His chance came Saturday, though. And he took advantage.
In UNC's 49-26 win over Western Carolina, Williams turned 17 carries into 93 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 38 receiving yards on two catches, including a 35-yard grab.
"Tonight was his first night to really get extended time in the backfield," Larry Fedora said. "He just shows you that he's pretty mature and he's prepared himself really well. He's been preparing himself since Game 1 to be out there and be the guy. It just hasn't happened until tonight."
Williams said he hasn't played as much as he'd like this season. But he understands that's part of being a freshman in a crowded backfield that features Antonio Williams, Michael Carter and Jordon Brown. He also knows he'll likely become more involved in the offense over time.
Saturday, he demonstrated what he might accomplish in an expanded role.
A week after scoring his first career touchdown in Carolina's loss at Duke, Williams took his first carry against the Catamounts into the end zone for a 1-yard, first-quarter touchdown. He continued running hard, with his shoulder pads down. That allowed him to register two more touchdowns, both 2-yard, third-quarter scores that put the game out of reach.
Williams said being around Antonio Williams, Carter and Brown helped him find success Saturday, even if it's been frustrating that most of the lessons they've taught him have come with him watching from the sideline.
"Being a high school standout just last year and now coming here and pretty much starting all over again, it just humbled me a lot," Williams said. "And it showed me if you really want something, you've gotta work for it."
By all accounts, he has.
Like some of the most productive Tar Heels during Fedora's seven-year tenure, Williams has embraced his role on special teams. He's started on all four units throughout the season. He's "done a tremendous job" on each one, Chris Kapilovic said last week.
Williams has also excelled in pass protection. Rarely asked to help in that area during high school, running backs often struggle developing that skill in their transition to college. Williams said that was the case for him, as well. But before he admitted that Saturday, it could've been assumed it wasn't. His coaches and teammates have regularly called him a natural pass protector.
"He works so hard, he's such a good dude," said Nathan Elliott, one of the biggest proponents of Williams' pass-protection abilities. "If there is anyone I wanted to have a day like that, it was him. He's earned it, he deserves it and he did a great job today. I couldn't be more proud of him."
Williams became the first UNC player to run for three touchdowns since Elijah Hood did it against Georgia Tech in 2016. He also became the first freshman to accomplish that feat since T.J. Logan, who rushed for three touchdowns against Old Dominion in 2013.
Such an achievement might not have seemed attainable this time last year, when Williams' patience reached its limit. But he always knew he was capable.
"I'm just proud of myself because I knew I could do it the whole time," he said. "But I just had to show other people, and that was the hardest part. Being from a small town, they don't usually believe in you as much as others. But I think I played pretty well today. And I'm just going to keep getting better."
There came a time late last year when Javonte Williams' patience finally wore thin.
A star running back and safety at Wallace-Rose Hill High School in Teachey, N.C., he entered his senior season having led the Bulldogs to three 2A state championships. He'd claimed MVP honors each time. Still, despite his gaudy numbers, he hadn't received a scholarship offer.
Williams later earned one from Coastal Carolina. But without an FBS offer as his high school career neared its end, the 4.0 GPA student and Wallace-Rose Hill's nominee for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship began considering a life without football.
"I was just thinking about going to school to be a regular student," said Williams, who started planning to attend North Carolina as a biology major. "I was telling my mom, 'I think I'm just going to give football up,' because I didn't really have the offers that I thought I deserved. But she just told me to keep pushing and keep praying."
And eventually, his patience paid off.
After Williams capped his high school career with an MVP performance in the 2017 state title game, held in Kenan Stadium, the Tar Heels offered him a scholarship. He immediately accepted. He then enrolled at UNC in January and impressed Carolina's coaches throughout the offseason.
Because of the Tar Heels' running back depth, Williams didn't receive many opportunities in his first nine games to show fans what the coaches see in him, carrying the ball 10 times for 48 yards. His chance came Saturday, though. And he took advantage.
In UNC's 49-26 win over Western Carolina, Williams turned 17 carries into 93 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 38 receiving yards on two catches, including a 35-yard grab.
"Tonight was his first night to really get extended time in the backfield," Larry Fedora said. "He just shows you that he's pretty mature and he's prepared himself really well. He's been preparing himself since Game 1 to be out there and be the guy. It just hasn't happened until tonight."
Williams said he hasn't played as much as he'd like this season. But he understands that's part of being a freshman in a crowded backfield that features Antonio Williams, Michael Carter and Jordon Brown. He also knows he'll likely become more involved in the offense over time.
Saturday, he demonstrated what he might accomplish in an expanded role.
A week after scoring his first career touchdown in Carolina's loss at Duke, Williams took his first carry against the Catamounts into the end zone for a 1-yard, first-quarter touchdown. He continued running hard, with his shoulder pads down. That allowed him to register two more touchdowns, both 2-yard, third-quarter scores that put the game out of reach.
Williams said being around Antonio Williams, Carter and Brown helped him find success Saturday, even if it's been frustrating that most of the lessons they've taught him have come with him watching from the sideline.
"Being a high school standout just last year and now coming here and pretty much starting all over again, it just humbled me a lot," Williams said. "And it showed me if you really want something, you've gotta work for it."
By all accounts, he has.
Like some of the most productive Tar Heels during Fedora's seven-year tenure, Williams has embraced his role on special teams. He's started on all four units throughout the season. He's "done a tremendous job" on each one, Chris Kapilovic said last week.
Williams has also excelled in pass protection. Rarely asked to help in that area during high school, running backs often struggle developing that skill in their transition to college. Williams said that was the case for him, as well. But before he admitted that Saturday, it could've been assumed it wasn't. His coaches and teammates have regularly called him a natural pass protector.
"He works so hard, he's such a good dude," said Nathan Elliott, one of the biggest proponents of Williams' pass-protection abilities. "If there is anyone I wanted to have a day like that, it was him. He's earned it, he deserves it and he did a great job today. I couldn't be more proud of him."
Williams became the first UNC player to run for three touchdowns since Elijah Hood did it against Georgia Tech in 2016. He also became the first freshman to accomplish that feat since T.J. Logan, who rushed for three touchdowns against Old Dominion in 2013.
Such an achievement might not have seemed attainable this time last year, when Williams' patience reached its limit. But he always knew he was capable.
"I'm just proud of myself because I knew I could do it the whole time," he said. "But I just had to show other people, and that was the hardest part. Being from a small town, they don't usually believe in you as much as others. But I think I played pretty well today. And I'm just going to keep getting better."
Players Mentioned
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