Zach Evans
{{Short description|American football player (born 2001)}}
{{About||the Canadian football defensive lineman|Zack Evans|the Welsh footballer|Zac Evans}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Zach Evans
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = New York Jets
| number = 38
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|5|30}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 202
| high_school = North Shore (Houston)
| college = {{ubl|TCU (2020–2021)|Ole Miss (2022)}}
| draftyear = 2023
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 215
| pastteams =
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2023}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)*
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 19
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 2.1
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = EvanZa00
}}
Zachary Evans (born May 30, 2001) is an American professional football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs before playing one season with Ole Miss Rebels in 2022. Selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams, he played one season for the franchise before being released prior to the start of the 2024 season.
Early years
Evans went to North Shore High School in Houston, Texas.{{Cite web |last=Hummer |first=Chris |date=May 11, 2020 |title=Zachary Evans' all-time crazy recruitment is over |url=https://247sports.com/article/zach-evans-tcu-football-commit-five-star-running-back-college-football-recruiting-147027297/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=247Sports |language=en}} Evans was ranked as a five-star recruit and the number one player in the state of Texas in the 2020 class by 247Sports.com. He was compared to Melvin Gordon of the Denver Broncos.{{Cite web|title=Zach Evans, TCU Horned Frogs, Running Back|url=https://247sports.com/Player/Zach-Evans-94137/|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=247Sports|language=en-US}} In 2019, Evans broke the team's cell phone rules.{{Cite web |last=Drabik |first=Ben |date=September 15, 2021 |title=The rise of TCU running back Zach Evans |url=https://bvmsports.com/2021/09/15/the-rise-of-tcu-running-back-zach-evans/ |access-date=June 18, 2022 |website=BVM Sports |language=en-US}} He was suspended and not allowed to play in the state championship game. Evans was committed to Georgia but this incident led him to be released from his NLI.{{Cite web |last=Zucker |first=Joseph |date=January 7, 2020 |title=5-Star RB Zachary Evans Released from Georgia NLI Amid LSU, Texas A&M Interest |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2870177-5-star-rb-zachary-evans-released-from-georgia-nli-amid-lsu-texas-am-interest |access-date=January 6, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} Evans would eventually commit to Texas Christian University becoming the school's first ever five-star recruit.{{Cite web |last=Coleman |first=Adam |date=May 11, 2020 |title=TCU lands North Shore running back Zach Evans |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/highschool/article/TCU-lands-North-Shore-running-back-Zach-Evans-15261978.php |access-date=June 18, 2022 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}}
College career
= TCU =
As a freshman in 2020, Evans played in nine games totaling 415 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=January 6, 2022 |title=Ex-TCU running back Zach Evans transferring to Ole Miss |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2022/01/ex-tcu-running-back-zach-evans-transferring-to-ole-miss.html |access-date=June 18, 2022 |website=AL.com |language=en}}
In 2021, Evans played in just six games recording 648 yards and five touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Suss |first=Nick |date=January 6, 2022 |title=Former TCU, 5-star running back Zach Evans commits to Ole Miss from transfer portal |url=https://news.yahoo.com/former-tcu-5-star-running-164312479.html |access-date=June 18, 2022 |website=Yahoo! News |language=en-US}} Evan's season would be cut short due to a turf toe injury sustained in a game against Texas Tech.{{Cite web |last=Davison |first=Drew |date=November 24, 2021 |title=TCU RB Zach Evans is done for the season, interim football coach Jerry Kill says |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article256072287.html |access-date=July 23, 2023 |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}
= Ole Miss =
Evans transferred to Ole Miss in 2022 to play for the Ole Miss Rebels.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Sam Jr. |date=January 6, 2022 |title=Zach Evans, former 5-star RB, transferring to Ole Miss |url=https://theathletic.com/news/zach-evans-former-5-star-rb-transferring-to-ole-miss/jYQ2ETvTQr8f/ |access-date=June 18, 2022 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2022 |title=Ex-TCU RB Zach Evans announces transfer to Ole Miss |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/tcu-horned-frogs/2022/01/06/ex-tcu-rb-zach-evans-announces-transfer-to-ole-miss/ |access-date=June 18, 2022 |website=Dallas News |language=en}} He played one season there, rushing for 936 yards and nine touchdowns, and declared for the 2023 NFL draft following the season.{{Cite web |last=Thamel |first=Pete |date=December 30, 2022 |title=Source: Ole Miss' Evans declaring for NFL draft |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35348383/source-ole-miss-rb-zach-evans-declaring-nfl-draft |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} He averaged the 10th-most yards per carry in the FBS at 6.5.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Stu |date=April 30, 2023 |title=Zach Evans grateful Rams traded up to draft him, excited to reunite with former TCU teammates |url=https://www.therams.com/news/zach-evans-running-back-rams-trade-up-tcu-teammates-nfl-draft |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=TheRams.com |language=en-US}}
=Collegiate statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="4"| Rushing ! colspan="4"| Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2020
| 9 || 54 || 415 || 7.7|| 4 || 8 || 76 || 9.5 || 0 | |||||||||
| 2021
| 6 || 92 || 648 || 7.0 || 5 || 10 || 130|| 13.0|| 1 | |||||||||
| 2022
| 12|| 144|| 936|| 6.5 || 9|| 12|| 119 || 9.9 || 1 | |||||||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/zach-evans-1.html Career] | 27 | 290 | 1,999 | 6.9 | 18 | 30 | 325 | 10.8 | 2 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 1/8
| weight = 202
| dash = 4.51
| ten split = 1.57
| twenty split = 2.57
| shuttle = 4.25
| cone drill = 6.89
| vertical = 33.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 1
| arm span = 31 5/8
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = Sources:{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/zach-evans/32004556-4181-2057-89cd-cc42654bef9d |title=Zach Evans Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 14, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1040089&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Zach Evans College Football Profile |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Los Angeles Rams=
Evans was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round with the 215th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Stu |date=April 29, 2023 |title=READ: Rams select Mississippi RB Zach Evans with 215th pick in 2023 NFL Draft |url=https://www.therams.com/news/zach-evans-nfl-draft-running-back-ole-miss |access-date=July 23, 2023 |website=TheRams.com}} He appeared in 10 games playing on offense and special teams during the regular season, carrying the ball nine times for 19 yards, but did not play in the Rams' playoff loss to the Detroit Lions.
Evans was cut by the Rams on August 27, 2024, then was re-signed to the team's practice squad a day later before being released again on August 29.{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Ricardo |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Rams Release RB From Practice Squad Amid Roster Cuts |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/news/rams-release-rb-from-practice-squad-amid-roster-cuts-01j6fqm9t6wc |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=SI.com}}
=New York Jets=
On December 17, 2024, Evans was signed to the New York Jets practice squad.{{Cite web |date=December 17, 2024 |title=Zach Evans: Signed to Jets' practice squad |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/zach-evans-signed-to-jets-practice-squad/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=CBS Sports}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Ethan |date=January 6, 2025 |title=Jets Sign 10 Players to Reserve/Future Contracts |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-10-players-to-reserve-future-contracts-01-06-2025 |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=NewYorkJets.com}}
= Professional statistics =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Rushing !colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | |
| 2023 | LAR
| 10 || 0 || 9 || 19 || 2.1 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EvanZa00.htm Career] | 10 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 2.1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|yahoo=40243|espn=4685035|nfl=zach-evans}}
- [https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/zach-evans/ New York Jets bio]
- [https://olemisssports.com/sports/football/roster/zach-evans/3985 Ole Miss Rebels bio]
- [https://gofrogs.com/sports/football/roster/zach-evans/12218 TCU Horned Frogs bio]
{{Los Angeles Rams 2023 draft navbox}}
{{New York Jets roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Zach}}
Category:Players of American football from Houston
Category:American football running backs
Category:North Shore Senior High School (Texas) alumni
Category:TCU Horned Frogs football players
Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players