A gifted, quick and physical athlete who will be expected to continue development and enhance honors candidacy at the conference level as a sophomore in 2008 ... Coaches feel talent potential and additional gains made in the strength program are limitless ... Is projected as a possible starter at tailback along with a stable of capable backs, thus competition is expected to continue throughout the season or a rotational format will be utilized ... A noted pass catcher out of the backfield ... Also scheduled to move into a full-time kickoff return role after handling duties on a limited basis behind All-America performer Chris Johnson as a true freshman ... Displayed flashes of speed, elusiveness and physical dominance during rookie year despite inexperience ... Joined ECU program from an exceptionally successful prep program at local J.H. Rose High School ... Led all running backs with 73 yards on 10 carries and two catches for 26 yards during the first spring scrimmage (3/28) ... Picked up 61 yards on 11 attempts and three yards on one reception a week later during second contest (4/4) ... Topped all rushers with 44 yards on seven carries during weather-shortened '08 Purple-Gold Game ... Also hauled in a pass catch for 13 yards during annual spring game. 2007: Earned selection to the 2007 Conference USA All-Freshman Team by media members ... Played in 10 games as a reserve back and member of special teams ... Rushed 22 times for 150 yards (6.8 avg.) ... Had break-out game against UAB, collecting 134 all-purpose yards (63/rush, 71/KOR) ... Ran for a career-high 63 yards on five carries against the Blazers, which also included first career TD (35-yard run) ... Returned 14 kickoffs for 312 yards (22.3 ypr), which ranked second on the team ... Had a career-high eight rushes for 46 yards against Memphis ... Recorded first career reception (four yards) against Marshall on a screen pass ... Collected five tackles on special teams duty (VT/1, UTEP/1, Memphis/2) ... vs. Va. Tech (9/1): Saw first collegiate action as a member of special team unit - no stats ... vs. UNC (9/8): Returned a pair of kickoffs for 78 yards, with a long of 63 (fourth quarter) ... Credited with one tackle on special teams, tripping up Brandon Tate on a punt return to prevent a score ... vs. USM (9/15): Returned three kicks for 46 yards with a long of 18 ... vs. WVU (9/22): Saw first collegiate action in the Pirate backfield ... Rushed the ball once for four yards ... Returned three kicks for 53 yards ... vs. Houston (9/29): DNP-INJ ... vs. UCF (10/6): DNP-INJ ... vs. UTEP (10/13): Returned to action after missing two games with an ankle injury ... Rushed one time for nine yards in the first quarter ... vs. N.C. State (10/20): Ran the ball twice, picking up four yards ... Credited with one special teams tackle (solo) ... Recovered fumble on special teams ... vs. UAB (10/27): Enjoyed top contest of season, collecting 134 all-purpose yards ... Rushed five times for 63 yards, which included a 35-yard TD run in the first quarter ... Had two kickoff returns for 71 yards with a long of 41 in the first quarter ... vs. Memphis (11/3): Rushed a career-high eight times for 46 yards with a long of 19 coming in the third quarter ... vs. Marshall (11/10): Carried the ball three times for 19 yards (6.3 ypc) ... Caught first career pass for four yards ... Returned two kickoffs for 26 yards ... Finished game with 49 all-purpose yards (19/run, 4/receiving, 26/KOR) ... vs. Tulane (11/24): Finished contest with 43 all-purpose yards (5/run and 38/KOR) ... Carried the ball twice for five yards ... vs. Boise State (12/23): DNP-CD ... Officially signed with Skip Holtz' program in February, 2007. High School: Completed prep career by leading J.H. Rose High School to back-to-back 16-0 records and Class 4A State Championships as a junior and senior ... Earned all-conference and all-area honors in 2005 and 2006 and was a third-team All-America selection as a senior by EA Sports ... Rushed for 2,807 yards and 39 touchdowns on 242 carries in full-time role as the program's top running back as a senior despite missing two games because of a lower leg injury ... Averaged 11.6 yards per carry in 2006, finishing among the state's top three leading rushers ... Racked up a school-record 391 ground yards and six touchdowns in a contest against rival Rocky Mount ... Keyed an offensive unit that averaged 46.4 points per game in 2006 ... Rushed for 96 yards and three TDs on 24 carries in the Rampants' 26-12 victory over West Charlotte in the 2006 North Carolina 4A State Championship Game at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham (Dec. 9) ... Scored on runs of three, five and two yards against the Lions to earn offensive MVP honors ... Also earned MVP honors of the 2006 Shrine Bowl game after netting 106 rushing yards ... Ran for 1,279 yards and 18 scores on 107 attempts in 2005 - an average of 12.0 yards per carry ... Combined for 4,086 yards on 349 rushes (11.7 ypc) as an upperclassman ... Defensively, added 42 tackles, three sacks and an interception as a junior ... Prep coach was Greg Thomas, who lettered for the Pirate program from 1983 to 1986 ... Opened prep career at South Central High School ... Clocked at 4.37 in the 40-yard dash ... Ranked among North Carolina's Top 30 according to SuperPrep Magazine ... Also earned four basketball letters. Personal: Full name is Jonathan Edward Williams ... Born August 21, 1988 at Smithfield, N.C. ... A family community major ... Son of Patrick and Evelyn Williams. |
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