With the possibility of both Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr. bolting for the NFL, the Florida State Seminoles might need to add a running back or two to the class of 2014.
There are several players on their radar, but one of the names that keeps surfacing is North Carolina native Donte Thomas-Williams. The four-star running back is down to the Seminoles and West Virginia, and could be ready to commit following his visit to Tallahassee this weekend.
Thomas-Williams has built a great relationship with Florida State running backs coach Jay Graham, who is also from North Carolina. In the end, the comfort level between the two could give the Noles a slight edge over the Mountaineers.
As a player, Thomas-Williams looks like he could play at the collegiate level right now. At 6-foot, 221 pounds, he runs with a physicality that head coach Jimbo Fisher loves to see in his running backs. However, he’s not simply a downhill, goal line runner. Thomas-Williams has nice lateral movement and can be explosive when he sees a crease.
A majority of his work will be between the tackles, but that doesn’t mean he lacks the top-end speed to make big plays in the run game. He’s not exactly like Wilder Jr., but that comparison has some validity.
Like Wilder Jr., he has outstanding balance and shows a rare ability to take hits and keep moving forward. He runs with a forward lean, finishes runs and wears defenses down.
He’s not a lock to end up in Tallahassee, but if the Noles want him, he seems like he could become a member of the class of 2014.
B.L. is a College Football writer for Rant Sports and can be followed on Twitter @coachlip.
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