Steelers scouting profile: Javonte Williams can do it all
By Andrew Falce
Williams is a popular name amongst Steelers fans, but where does he truly fit as a prospect in the 2021 draft class?
The Steelers are on a mission to fix their running game in 2021, and more than likely a new running back will enter the fold as the starter. While Najee Harris is the king of the running backs in this class, Javonte Williams has quite the following of fans. Williams has plenty of positive traits to his game. Here is a breakdown of the good, the bad, and where his projection should be in this draft.
Metrics:
5’9, 212 pounds
2020 stats: 1445 total yards, 22 total scores
Tape studied: Miami, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Virginia
Without a doubt, Williams was one of the top producers at the running back position in 2020. He was used all over the field and at times, the dynamic North Carolina offense ran through him. This resulted in an extremely strong statistical season for Williams, as he netted nearly 1500 total yards and was a consistent threat to score.
At his pro day, Williams actually was a little disappointing. He ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, which indicates some issues with his straight-line speed. On the plus side, his overall athleticism tested well enough, as none of the other major numbers came in low. Based on his testing, Williams seems like more of a quick burst but lacking long speed option in the NFL. He is a threat to get chunks of yards, but he isn’t a threat to break away long runs. His tape seems to back this up, but it doesn’t take away from his overall positives.