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Ole Miss RB Zach Evans has "a point to prove" after making move to the SEC

11by: Jake Thompson04/07/22JakeThompsonOn3
Zach Evans
Ole Miss RB Zach Evans

When Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin were hitting it big during their transfer portal spree this winter, Zach Evans was their first splash get and the running back is out to ensure it was the right decision.

In a depleted running back room after the departures of Jerrion Ealy, Snooper Conner and Henry Parrish, Jr., Evans instantly became an immediate impact player upon his arrival in January.

Now, after making the decision to leave TCU for Ole Miss and the SEC, Evans may not feel a lot of expectations but he is coming into spring with a minor chip on his shoulders.

“I feel like I got a point to prove,” Evans said. “A lot of people feel like the competition in the Big 12 is weaker and so I just want to show that I can be able to adapt.”

Despite his production at TCU the past couple years Evan feels there is still a lot left on the table in terms of what he can do and how he can be better utilized.

Speaking with Kiffin during his recruiting period once in the portal, Evans enjoyed hearing how they planned to use him if he picked the Rebels.

In six games at TCU last season, Evans rushed for over 640 yards and five touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury.

“Me personally, I feel like I was underused (at TCU),” Evans said. “Not a knock off against them. I’m not saying they don’t know what they’re doing, but I just feel like I could’ve done a lot more. Contributed a lot more to the team.”

With a fresh start with the Rebels, who Evans says he chose over Texas A&M, there is a chance for him to contribute as much as he wants.

Evans said he models his game after Nick Chubb and Alvin Kamara, which provides a unique mix of power and flash. Something the Rebels backfield could benefit greatly from.

“With the versatility of Kamara, in the balance, some people say I model his running style,” Evans said. “They say I look like a smooth runner sometimes. When it comes to Chubb, I just like his aggressiveness, physicality. Him dropping a shoulder and stiff-arming on the edges.”

The Rebels nearly got Evans two years sooner, as they were high on his list during his high school recruitment.

Former Rebels running back D’Vaughn Pennamon and Evans are cousins, which allowed the Houston, Texas native to come to campus often to watch games.

One reason for Evans to make his way to Oxford now was the potential he sees in getting more prepared for the NFL, something this is becoming a common denominator with a lot of the Rebels new transfers.

“(Kiffin) was just telling me how he can get me ready. He’s an NFL coach,” Evans said. “We not out there just running balls to the wall all day long. We’re getting our breaks. He’s utilizing us just right.”

The Rebels have a motivated Evans who intends to be major player this fall

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