Zach Evans, RB Ole Miss: Offseason 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Evans was a five-star recruit from North Shore High School in Houston, Texas in the class of 2020

Zach Evans transferred from TCU to Ole Miss for the upcoming college football season. The former five-star recruit missed a good chunk of last season with an injury, but he’s displayed plenty of plus traits during his brief college career. Evans hopes to fuel the flames of his 2023 NFL Draft stock in Lane Kiffin’s offense.

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Zach Evans, RB Ole Miss: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior running back from Houston, Texas

Background: Evans was a five-star recruit from North Shore High School in Houston, Texas in the class of 2020. He was the No. 16 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 13 for Rivals, and No. 12 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 16th in the nation with a 90 grade out of 100. Evans finished high school with nearly 5,000 rushing yards and 76 touchdowns. He rushed for more than 1,700 yards and 29 touchdowns as a high school junior. Evans was the leading rusher for a North Shore team that won its second consecutive Texas 6A Division I state championship. He was invited to the Under Armour All-America Game. Evans transferred from TCU to Ole Miss in the spring of 2022.

2021 Production: 6 games, 92 carries, 648 yards, 5 touchdowns + 10 receptions, 130 yards, 1 touchdown

2020 Production: 9 games, 54 carries, 415 yards, 4 touchdowns + 8 receptions, 76 yards

Injuries & Off-Field: Strange recruiting process, missed six games with turf toe (2021)

Awards: N/A

Pros: Some experience playing in the slot, generated over 5.7 yards after contact per attempt in 2020 and 4.3 in 2021, above average burst and contact balance, terrific vision in the open field that helps him weave past defenders, displays plenty of upside as a pass catcher and screen option, drops are mostly concentration based and can be corrected, squared up and blocked well on several plays where he was the leader blocker on QB runs, consistently handled cut block assignments on limited pass pro reps, tough for linebackers or defensive backs to bring down one-on-one, displays an effective spin move, legs drive through contact, displays some elusiveness

Cons: Limited experience on special teams, three drops on roughly 25 career targets, shows upside as a pass catcher but doesn’t have the volume, only 16 career snaps in pass protection, one fumble each year, not a consistent pile mover on inside runs, not twitchy or sudden, lacks home run speed, his helmet pops off a lot (at least five times during the games I watched), needs to add more downfield routes to his arsenal, struggles to track the football on deep passes, minimal elusiveness

Overview: Evans is unofficially listed at 6'0", 215 lbs. Roughly one out of every five carries he had at TCU went for ten or more yards. Evans showcases big-play explosiveness thanks to his burst and solid top speed. While he isn’t twitchy or sudden, the Ole Miss transfer displays some elusive cuts and the ability to set defenders up for secondary moves. Evans isn’t a bruising back, but he carries his weight well enough to challenge linebackers and defensive backs in one-on-one situations. The junior showcases above average contact balance and is comfortable executing a spin move. Unfortunately, TCU didn’t use Evans much in the passing game. He showcased his terrific open field athleticism on screen plays, but there were several concentration drops on his tape. Evans has fewer than two dozen true pass blocking reps to his name, but he’s showcased some potential as a blocker in both the pass and run game. Now he just needs to perform at that level with more reps. Despite his overall athleticism, I don’t think he has true home run speed when compared to other potential members of this running back class.

Overall, Evans offers an enticing blend of athleticism, burst, and contact balance. Right now he appears to be a jack of all trades but master of none. Evans has the potential to be a three-down back in the NFL, but he’ll need more reps in obvious passing situations. Evans can solidify himself as a Day 2 pick if he stays healthy and puts together a complete season.

Role & Scheme Fit: Potential three-down back in an inside or outside zone scheme

Round Projection: Late Second to Mid Third

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 07-20-22