J'Koby Williams needed only one play to dispel any preconceived notions of him as a Texas Tech football player. He packs a punch, even if he's one of the smallest players on the field, and he's not scared even if he's from a town of 722.
Williams' first chance in college football came just before halftime of Texas Tech's 66-21 rout of North Texas on Saturday, when the Red Raiders already were way ahead. Williams made such an indelible impression, Tech coach Joey McGuire noted the clock time and told videographer Patrick Clancy to clip the highlight for social media.
Leading the way for Drae McCray on a jet sweep, the little running back knocked a Mean Green safety off his feet. He then got up, did a little flex, hurried back into formation and caught a pass on the next play.
"It's one of the most physical plays in the game," McGuire said of Williams's crushing block.
"It was one of my favorite plays from the game," offensive coordinator Zach Kittley said. "He's such a great kid. He comes from a real small community out there in East Texas and he does everything you ask him to do, and he does it a million miles an hour. And I think you see the explosiveness that he can bring."
Tech led 52-7 at halftime, so the Red Raiders were able to use young players down on the depth chart. Quarterback Will Hammond and wide receiver Micah Hudson made the first of what Tech fans expect to be many connections. Receiver Tyson Turner caught his first pass, Cameron Dickey carried 10 times for 75 yards and offensive linemen Jacob Ponton and Holton Hendrix had their moments. They're all true freshmen.
The Red Raiders have little choice but to incorporate Dickey and Williams more. Tech announced Monday backup running back Cam'Ron Valdez suffered a season-ending knee injury. Valdez was the only man standing between Tahj Brooks and the freshmen at the position.
More: Texas Tech football running back out for year with knee injury
"I told Tahj this on Friday night: They're lucky to have him, because he is a pro," McGuire said. "He comes into the building and all they see is, this is how a football player is supposed to look. This is how he's supposed to study. This is how he's supposed to recover. So they're just emulating what he does."
Hammond amassed nearly 5,000 yards total offense last year at Class 6A Hutto. In a 5-for-7 passing day Saturday, he threw a dart to Hudson for 32 yards, threaded the needle to Jalin Conyers between two defenders for 19 yards. Hammond impresses with more than numbers and arm, though. The awareness and mobility in the pocket that impressed Tech coaches in the spring keep showing up.
More: Texas Tech football: Ball-hawking defense fuels Red Raiders' rout of North Texas
With Behren Morton in place, Hammond has time to develop behind the scenes. That's less the case with the young running backs. Brooks can't play every snap, as much as they'd like him to.
On Monday, McGuire sent video of Williams' de-cleater to his old coaches back in East Texas. Williams' hometown is Beckville, about 26 miles southeast of Longview and not far from the Louisiana border. Cody Ross coaches Beckville, but going back several years ago Andy Evans alerted McGuire, then at Baylor, he had a prospect.
"He's the one whenever J'Koby was either in eighth grade or ninth grade," McGuire said, "he called me and said, 'Hey, you might need to look at this kid, because he's really special.'"
Williams won three state championships in the 110-meter hurdles. It turns out he's a scatback who's willing to do more than run.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Kids like J'Koby Williams a bonus to Texas Tech football rout
