Javonte Williams is a thickly built above average sized running back at 5’10 220 lbs. He projects to be a solid one cut runner who can be very dangerous when he gets to the outside and out in space. Comparatively he doesn’t have much wear and tear on him and he has the potential to be a 3 down back at the next level.

Strengths: 

  • Amazing Contact Balance

The best trait that Javonte Williams possesses is easily his contact balance and he probably has the best contact balance in the class. He takes smart angles and he’s very physical allowing him to bounce off tacklers.

  • Very Aggressive

Watching Javonte Williams play he looks like a bowling ball because he’s always the one initiating contact against defenders. He’s got great size and play strength, with a fiery attitude to back it up.

  • Good Vision

Javonte Williams is a player who sees the field very well. He almost never misses easy lanes and he always sees a path to get to the outside where he’s dangerous.

  • Gets to the Outside

Speaking of great vision to get to the outside Javonte Williams excels at this and he routinely finds a hole that allows him to get to the outside even if the play isn’t called for him that way.

  • Great in Space

Once Javonte Williams gets in space he has good enough agility and a hard hitting ability that makes him extremely tough to tackle in the open field, especially when he gets a full head of steam going. 

  • Traits to Become a Good Receiver

Javonte Williams isn’t an elite receiver and doesn’t have as many receptions as the top backs in this year’s class but he does have a few catches away from his body on tape.

  • Initiates Contact While Blocking

He’s so aggressive while blocking that he’s usually the one hitting the blitzer and not the other way around which normally turns out well. This does leave him susceptible to speed moves at times though.

Weaknesses: 

  • Not Great Burst

Javonte Williams does not have great burst or acceleration. If there is a small quickly collapsing hole more likely than not Williams will attempt to go around him rather than go through it because he doesn’t have that elite hole hitting ability.

  • Not Amazing Long Speed

Javonte Williams does not finish his long runs in touchdowns and instead settles for large chunk gains. He doesn’t have that second gear to hit when running downfield.

  • Not a 3 Down Back Yet

He has the potential to be a solid receiver and pass protector but as of right now he needs to be taught how to run more routes and he also needs to learn to not be overly aggressive while blocking.

Player Comp: The player comparison that I believe is fit for a guy like Javonte Williams is former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin. They have similar size profiles with both of them standing around 5’10 220 lbs. They both had decent elusiveness and were very good running out in space because of their great contact balance and angles. They were also both high effort blockers with the potential to develop into decent receiving backs. They both had the same aggressive playstyle and are both described as pinball type runners. Martin succeeded in a gap scheme and I project the same for Williams.

Final Thoughts: Javonte Williams is a guy that I’m a bit lower then consensus on with me having a mid late second round grade on him. He’s a very good running back although for his capabilities to be maximized I think he’d be better suited if he goes to go to a power/gap scheme. He runs behind pull blockers incredibly well and he uses them to get into space. A great fit for him would be the Atlanta Falcons who aren’t quite a serious contender so the immediate 3 down back issue doesn’t affect him as much, and since he’s back with less touches on him he looks to last longer than some of the other backs which fits Atlanta’s timeline, especially if they draft a QB. Not to mention, Williams would be a perfect fit in new head coach Arthur Smith’s power/gap scheme.