The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Splitting carries keeps UNC running backs fresh for NFL
1,000-yard rushers Williams, Carter offer power, speed.
Javonte Williams and Michael Carter could have shouldered a much bigger load at other college football programs. But over the past three seasons, two of the best running backs in the nation became a dynamic tandem at North Carolina, breaking one big play after another.
In 2020, the two backs had a near split when it came to carries — Williams with 157 and Carter with 156. Carter ran for 1,245 yards and nine touchdowns; Williams totaled 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns. Carter ranked fourth in the nation in yards and Williams was sixth.
More impressive, both backs averaged more than 7 yards a carry, which proves their big-play potential.
Williams believes the twoback system at UNC not only showed a selfless quality between the two, but it preserved their health for the NFL.
“Honestly, I feel like a lot of players get overworked and have their best football in college,” Williams said. “But with the two-back system, and my sophomore year having three backs, I feel like I’m fresh and my best football is ahead of me.”
Carter enrolled at North Carolina in 2017 and was a role player for two seasons. As a junior in 2019, coach Mack Brown elected to go with a two-back approach with Carter and Williams.
Carter, the older of the two, could have been upset about the decision not to be given a majority of the carries.
But Carter saw the position as a game of quality vs. quantity. He said if a running back needs a ton of carries per game, he probably won’t do a good job. What matters more is what a running back does on his allotted caries.
“Our whole careers we’ve had to split carries, both of us,” Carter said. “It’s less important with how long you’re on the field but more important to know you have to make quality plays when you’re on the field to stay out there.”
Brown used Williams and Carter’s contrasting traits to his team’s advantage. Williams is powerful but has speed. Carter is elusive with great vision and patience. Both can break long runs. Both can catch the ball and pass-protect.
Brown likened his two backs to the USC tandem, Reggie Bush and Lendale White, he coached against in the 2006 Rose Bowl when he was at Texas.
“Those two guys were two of the best to ever play (college football) and maybe the best combination,” Brown said. “And then people started comparing Michael Carter and Javonte Williams to them at midseason. The numbers were even better than those two had at the time.”
When it comes to their NFL prospects, Williams, who declared for the draft following his junior season, is considered to be among the top three running backs in this year’s class with Alabama’s Najee Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne.
Brown was asked why Williams, at 5 feet 10 and 220 pounds, has a case for being the top back in this year’s running back group.
“The advantage you would give to Javonte is his size,” Brown said. “He’s so powerful and he bounced off plates week in and week out. That big back sometimes in the fourth quarter is a lot better than any back in the first quarter because they just keep pounding and pounding.”
Conversely, what likely kept Carter from being in that top group is his size at 5-foot-8 and 202 pounds.
“I feel like Michael can do it all,” Williams said. “A lot of people might knock him because he’s shorter, but I don’t feel that has limited him at all in his college career. He’s a great player.”