Injury sidelines Ole Miss running back Zach Evans at 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

Former Ole Miss running back Zach Evans is one of the top prospects at his position in this year’s 2023 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, his talent won’t be on display this week for NFL scouts at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, a minor injury has the Rebels star sidelined.

“Ole Miss RB Zach Evans won’t be participating in drills at this week’s scouting combine because of a minor hamstring strain, per source,” Pelissero shared on Monday. “The plan is to do everything at his pro day.”

Once a five-star prospect, according to the On3 Industry Rating, Evans’ collegiate career began at TCU. He played two seasons for the Horned Frogs before transferring to Ole Miss for the 2022 season.

He posted his best stats in the Rebels uniform, racking up 936 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 119 receiving yards and another score for Lane Kiffin‘s offense. While at TCU, Evans ran for 415 and 648 yards respectively, in 2020 and 2021.

ESPN has Evans ranked as the No. 11 best-available running back prospect in this year’s draft class.

Running back prospects in this year’s draft will do their combine measurements and on-field workouts on Sunday, March 5. Their interviews with teams begin on Wednesday, however.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. One hundred underclassmen gained approval for last year’s draft. Seventy-three of those 100 underclassmen received special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.