Easing the burden on sophomore quarterback Sam Howell and the passing game this season for the UNC football team are a pair of talented tailbacks who each add their own style to the game.
Behind junior Javonte Williams and senior Michael Carter, the Tar Heel rushing attack is expected to make a huge impact in 2020 — after both players eclipsed 1,000 total yards last season.
Williams and running backs coach Robert Gillespie each recently spoke with the media via Zoom to discuss their expectations for the upcoming campaign.
In the system run by offensive coordinator Phil Longo, UNC tends to play wide open and fast. Gillespie said his focus for the running backs is on total touches rather than carries, knowing that everybody is a target in the passing game.
“Mike [Carter] is a guy that you can put in space, run between the tackles, block, he can do it all,” Gillespie said. “I think Javonte [Williams] opened up some people’s eyes because he’s a guy that has some of the best hands on the team. Just because he’s a bigger guy, I think a lot of times it may be in your mind that you have to be a smaller guy to catch the ball, but he catches the ball really, really well.”
Having the ability to both run between the tackles and catch the ball in space is paramount to success in the Tar Heels’ no-huddle attack, which limits substitutions in order to maintain a high tempo.
Carter is known more for his speed and shiftiness—evidenced by his contributions in the return game—but has demonstrated a knack for finding holes in the middle and making big plays.
Williams, on the other hand, takes pride in seeking out contact and running through defenders. That attribute helped the former unheralded recruit become the team’s top runner in 2019, while adding an extra layer of versatility to the Tar Heel backfield.
“It does help you a little bit when you can make the contact before they can,” Williams said. “If you keep doing that and then bring someone like Mike in who’s a little more shifty, I feel like sooner or later they’re going to get tired and not know how to adjust.”
Combined with the mega-talented quarterback and receivers, the duo of Williams and Carter gives UNC the expectation of becoming one of the top offenses in the country this season.
If there’s one defense who could grind the Tar Heels to a screeching halt, though, it’s the coronavirus pandemic — which still looms large over the nation and could still potentially put a stop to the college football season before it ever gets started. Many schools such as Clemson, LSU and Texas have already had numerous players in their football programs test positive for the virus. On Wednesday, UNC said 37 members of its athletics community have tested positive since June 1. While the university did not say whether that includes the football program, its voluntary workouts have been temporarily paused.
From a player’s perspective, Williams said he will miss having a fully stadium for games, but is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the season can be played.
“It’s not really 100 percent clear what’s going to happen,” he said, “but with coronavirus [cases], I’d rather it happen now than later. Hopefully, everything can happen now and by the time the season gets closer, we see less cases.”
Photo via Dakota Moyer
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