North Carolina will be without Javonte Williams and more in the Orange Bowl
Bowl season is in full swing now, but it is not good news for all of the teams playing in one. North Carolina will be without not only their top running back in Javonte Williams, but the Tar Heels will also go to battle without Williams’ running mate in Michael Carter, and their starting middle linebacker in Chazz Surratt.
All three of these key contributors for the Tar Heels have opted to sit out of the Orange Bowl matchup against the Texas A&M Aggies on the second day of the New Year. With the 2021 NFL Draft now on the horizon for these talented North Carolina prospects, what does their draft stock look like?
What is the draft outlook of these Tar Heels?
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Williams is clearly the headliner of the three Tar Heels to opt out, as he is currently listed in the top three of running backs in this class with the likes of Alabama’s Najee Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne. After a massive 2020 season, Williams has burst onto the scene of 2021 NFL Draft pundits, and rightfully so. However due to positional value, he may not be the first North Carolina prospect off the board.
Surratt, entering the season as a fringe first round prospect has done nothing to hurt his stock. As the NFL Scouting Combine approaches, the former quarterback convert will prove his athletic ability to scouts and general managers, and looks like a top-50 pick this coming April.
Carter was the change-of-pace back for Williams, and will likely be evaluated as such at the next level as well. He will likely be a day-three pick in the draft, but will find a nice home and niche at the NFL level. How the Tar Heels, however, will recover from this loss has yet to be seen.