Drafted 35th overall back in the 2021 NFL draft, former UNC running back Javonte Williams struggled to find his place after a standout rookie campaign.
Williams began his career with the Denver Broncos, totaling nearly 1,000 yards and looking every bit of a reliable starter. After a torn ACL cut his "sophomore" NFL campaign short, Williams struggled to find that same effectiveness until last season.
Now entering his second year with the Dallas Cowboys, Williams just enjoyed the best game of his NFL career on Sunday, scoring a career-high three touchdowns in Dallas' 34-30 comeback win over its in-state rival Houston Texans.
Williams tallied the Cowboys' first three touchdowns, then CeeDee Lamb ended his career day by hauling in a 12-yard pass from
Dak Prescott.
Leaving Denver after four years, Williams signed a 1-year deal with America's team ahead of the 2025-26 NFL season. The Tar Heel standout enjoyed his best professional season to date, totaling career-bests of 1,201 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, including the league's first regular-season score.
First career hat trick for Javonte Williams 🎩
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) October 4, 2026
📺: https://t.co/DkE2OGomvu pic.twitter.com/QFbg4daWo2
Williams carried the football 19 times for 62 yards during Sunday's victory, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, but scored on runs of one, two and eight yards.
From 2018-2020 at North Carolina, Williams amassed 2,297 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, earning team offensive MVP, First Team All-ACC honors and PFF's ACC Player of the Year in 2020. Williams played on Larry Fedora's final team and Mack Brown's first two teams of his second stint in Chapel Hill, helping UNC to its most recent bowl victory (55-13 win over Temple in 2019 Military Bowl).
Now in the first campaign of his new, 3-year deal, Williams looks every bit of the star running Dallas envisioned when signing him last offseason.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football standout scores three touchdowns in Sunday NFL comeback
