J’Koby Williams is the definition of an all-purpose running back and an electrifying all-around player. He has been one of the best return men in the country over the last two seasons, and his production on the ground has continued to be second to none on the Texas Tech offense. As we enter the summer portion of the 2027 NFL Draft cycle, this article will assess Brown ahead of his third season within the Big 12 Conference.
J’Koby Williams 2027 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report
Career Statistics
- 1084 Rushing Yards
- 5.6 Yards Per Attempt
- 46.0 Yard Per Game
- 8 Touchdowns, 1 Fumble
- 55 Missed Tackles Forced
- 706 Yards After Contact
- 81.9 Average Offensive Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 81.2 Average Rushing Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 77.7 Average Receiving Grade (Pro Football Focus)
Player Background
Williams wasn’t the flashiest recruit coming out of Beckville High School in Texas. He was given a three-star rating and considered the 49th-best running back in the 2024 recruiting class, according to 24/7 Sports. Despite being classified as an average recruit, he still caught the eye of powerhouse programs. Power Five schools like Michigan, LSU, and Texas sent scholarship offers to Williams but he ultimately landed with the Red Raiders.
As a true freshman, he capitalized on a number of opportunities in all facets of the running back position. Across ten appearances, Williams’ 63.2 all-purpose yards per game ranked fifth on the team while his kick return average of 24.7 yards fell within the top 20 of the FBS. After being recognized as the Offensive Player of the Game for the 2024 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, there was nothing stopping Texas Tech from utilizing him more as a sophomore.
Williams and his running mate, Cameron Dickey, formed an unstoppable duo in the Big 12 this past season. They each posted more than 1,300 all-purpose yards which helped lead Texas Tech to the first conference championship in their history. As a returner, Williams was selected as a member of the All-Big 12 Third Team and was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, given to the most versatile player in College Football.
Best Tools for J’Koby Williams
- Does not play like his 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame; capable of driving defenders and piles with a strong lower half that helps him to succeed on inside runs
- Excels at creating space in the second and third levels of the defense by using quick feet to perform spins or sudden cuts; evident in the return game as well
- Explosive separation skills as a receiver on quick-breaking routes like angles, options or working inside/out; capable of an advanced route tree out of the backfield
- Able to maintain speed and explosiveness when stacking numerous cuts or moves together as a returner, runner and after-the-catch receiver
J'Koby Williams turned into prime Devin Hester for Texas Tech on Saturday 👀
🌵 3 Catches
🌵 60 Rec Yds
🌵 1 Rec TD
🌵 99 Yard KR TD
pic.twitter.com/AaTY6fnS5G— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) October 27, 2025
Tools to Improve for J’Koby Williams
- Teams and coordinators at the next level could view him more as a gadget player than a true three-down running back due to his lack of size and limitations in pass protection
- Quickly penetrating fronts can eliminate Williams completely; he struggles with salvaging broken plays and struggles with building a secondary plan when the initial gap is occupied
- Can be too passive or “cutback heavy” when surveying the line of scrimmage; waits too long for lanes to develop and this leads to negative plays
- Would like to see him utilize more tempo throughout his runs to manipulate defenders at all three levels and create tougher tackling angles
Early Player Summary
J’Koby Williams feels incredibly similar to Marcus Jones when he was coming out of Houston — two explosive and versatile players who are key program contributors. What is most impressive about Williams is his ability to play between the tackles. For a smaller running back, he is comfortable when working in traffic, probably due to his experience as a returner.
At the very worst, Williams should slide into a late-round selection as a return specialist who can contribute as a receiver out of the backfield. If he can improve as a pass protector and find additional mass for the next level, the 2027 NFL Draft will have another explosive running back waiting to shoot his way to the top of draft boards.
