Top-100 DL Dealyn Evans on sticking with the Aggies: 'I decided to stay loyal, my heart was with A&M'

ORLANDO, Fla. — On3 Industry Ranking top-100 DL Dealyn Evans was a source of late drama down the stretch of the Early Signing Period.

Evans, the nation’s No. 9-ranked DL out of Longview (Texas) Pine Tree High School in East Texas, did not ink with the Aggies until Friday, the final day of the Early Signing Period. For context, the 6-foot-4.5, 260-pound Evans was the first verbal commitment of Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class.

Evans flirted with Texas late and also entertained late interest from Florida, USC and Oklahoma down the stretch. The On300 DL stayed true to his pledge and feels confident in his call.

“I wanted to do something different. I didn’t wanna go somewhere on top, I wanted to start from the bottom and building something new,” Evans told On3 during the Under Armour All-America Game Media Check-In.

“A&M was with me from the jump and Oklahoma, USC just got on board,” he continued. “So I decided to stay loyal. My heart was with A&M. I knew Jimbo Fisher was gonna eventually get fired. I didn’t want to not have any options, so I took other visits.”

Evans, the No. 72 player in the country, stuck with the Aggies despite a late push from the Longhorns.

His familiarity with Aggieland loomed large in the decision to stick.

“I like Texas a lot, the guys in Texas’ recruiting class,” Evans started. “I have been to College Station 25 times. I know the city in and out, I could probably give a campus tour by now, so that motivated me to stay.”

“It was a lot to consider, that’s why I didn’t sign until the last day,” the four-star DL continued. “I had a lot of my mind. It was everywhere trying to decide where to go. All of the coaches who recruited me there didn’t try to recruit me to new schools, they told me to stay.”

New Aggies HC Mike Elko made a strong first impression on Evans. New DL coach Sean Spencer is already familiar with the Texas DL.

“Elko is no fun and games, he’s straight business, and that’s what we need to win,” Evans asserted. “I took a couple of visits to Florida and I liked Coach Spence, so it kind of worked out in the end. I like the way he talks bal with me, and we watch tape and talk ball.”

“I feel good (about everything),” he added. “The DL is gonna be great … me and everyone else.”