Mizzou defensive back announces intent to enter NFL Draft

Mizzou defensive back Akayleb Evans announced via Twitter on Thursday that he will enter the NFL draft. A redshirt senior, Evans played for Tulsa from 2017-20 before transferring to Missouri.

“Thank you president (Mun Young) Choi, athletic director Desiree Reed-Francis, and the city of Columbia for giving me the opportunity to play my final season of college football at the University of Missouri,” Evans said in a statement. “Thank you coach (Eli) Drinkwitz for inviting and welcoming me to the team with excitement. Thank you coach (Steve) Wilks for leading the defense and setting an example week after week. Coach (Aaron) Fletcher, thank you for seeing something in me seven years ago. You are the best DB coach and mentor in college football.

“…To all my new teammates, I am grateful for the season we shared in the locker room and on the field. Allie Green IV, we started our college football journey together and get to finish it together at Mizzou. …To my family, ever since I was in fourth grade you believed I could achieve my NFL goal. You never doubted me. Always held me accountable. Most importantly, you taught me to keep God first and use my platform to make a difference in the world. Thank you for your countless sacrifices.

“Today, I am officially declaring for the 2022 NFL draft. I am humbled and grateful. Thank you all.”

Evans finished the 2021 regular season with six passes defended, two forced fumbles and an interception. All of those numbers are career highs. He helped the Tigers to finish in the top half of the SEC in pass defense, giving up an average of 216.1 yards per game through the air.

He was the No. 189-ranked cornerback in the class of 2017 according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Despite being a late bloomer, he held offers from Kansas, Iowa State, and Tulsa before his senior season.

In Drinkwitz’s second season, Mizzou managed to achieve bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. The Tigers will face Army in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22.

The Mizzou defensive back is currently projected as a third-round pick in the NFL draft, according to CBS Sports. He is listed as the seventh-best defensive back on the board.