Javonte Williams lifts up Dallas Cowboys running back room as top RB in FBS. He burst onto the scene as a key component to the team’s foundation. The Denver Broncos selected Williams 35th overall in 2021 for a reason. He quickly found his stride, having a big rookie year with 903 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns. A partially torn ACL suffered in the fourth game of the 2022 season put him out. He sat out most of the next season due to it. After a successful return to the field, Williams is set to make more of an impact for the Cowboys this season.
Throughout the 2023 season, Williams demonstrated resilience and skill by playing in 16 regular-season games and participating in 11 more in 2024, including a playoff game. Aside from displaying his continued athletic prowess, his impressive return from injury has shed light on the sniper’s will to fight back from challenges and his persistence.
Williams is not only recognized for what he did on the field tho. Academically, he was just as good. He owns an equally strong 4.6 grade point average and was named class valedictorian in high school. This remarkable accomplishment so impressed the Ivy League schools that they sought to enroll him for his academic abilities. Motsinger, Williams’ high school coach, regularly uses Williams as an example to inspire current players. He underscores the importance of hard work, both in the classroom and on the field.
There’s been no shortage of highlights to showcase Williams’ speed and athleticism – wideout and running back alike. In that contest, he stole the show with a 73-yard touchdown run on the game’s opening play. This incredible play highlighted his talent to immediately alter the complexion of the game. In one particular game this past season, he went off for 207 yards and two TDs in a memorable performance. He proved his toughness by gashing defenses on long runs. He took the stack all the way to the Eagles’ one-yard line, setting up yet another touchdown chance.
Not surprisingly, Williams has commanded the respect of his teammates, including quarterback Dak Prescott, who dubbed him “Valedictorian-Tay.” This nickname is a testament to his academic success and to how smart of a player he is and his deep understanding of the game.
Hunter Luepke, another Cowboys player, praised Williams’ running style, stating, “He’s an electric runner. He’s a tough runner too. You saw a couple of those runs he was stopped maybe 2 yards and gets 6 more. You can’t wish for anything better than that. He’s a guy that runs hard, works hard. He’s a really intelligent back, just talking with him learning the offense as quick as he has.”
Even Williams himself recognizes the difference between book smarts and football smarts. He said, I think ‘football smart’ is more common sense than book smart. I just think there’s book smarts, and then there’s common sense. You know, some people can be book smart, but they don’t have no common sense.
His philosophy towards the game goes beyond building his own box score. He preaches team first and building character. “Playing without the ball, that shows more of your character,” he explained.
Outside of the Cowboys, he’s made his mark through the NFL. He did, of course, as he had already made history by becoming the first Cowboys running back since Herschel Walker in 1986 to score two touchdowns in a Dallas debut during a non-strike season. All this makes us even more excited about his potential impact on the team next season and beyond.
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