Report: Ole Miss RB Zach Evans to delcare for the NFL Draft
The Ole Miss running back room will have to reload for a second straight season after losing one to the NFL Draft.
On Friday ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Ole Miss running back Zach Evans will declare for the 2023 NFL Draft, foregoing his senior season.
The decision is not one that is completely unexpected as Evans was mulling over the decision to either return to Ole Miss for one more year or go ahead and make the jump and begin the journey to playing on Sundays next fall.
Evans noted ahead of the this week’s Texas Bowl he was still undecided and wanted to talk things over with his mom and family once Ole Miss’ 2022 season was completed.
It appears that discussion has taken place and a decision made.
Losing Evans is a little bit of a tough blow for Ole Miss and its running back room. Head coach Lane Kiffin brought Evans in via the transfer portal last December after the latter entered the portal after two seasons at TCU.
This season Evans battled through an injury that kept him out of one game and limited his production. Playing in 12 games He had 936 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 144 carries.
Evans was part of the top rushing attack that led to Ole Miss pacing the SEC.
The combo of Evans and true freshman Quinshon Judkins aided in Ole Miss being the third best rushing attack in the nation.
Losing Evans will make Judkins the de-facto starting back for the Rebels entering his sophomore season. It also leaves the running back room with Judkins and, at the moment, Ulysses Bentley IV, as the only two returning backs to see action.
Kiffin did get a boost to the room with the signing of Kedrick Reescano during last week’s early National Signing Day. With the impact Judkins made his freshman season it looks to be reasonable to expect Reescano to get the same chance next fall.
Evans is the first Ole Miss player to declare for the NFL Draft that is eligible to leave early. Senior receiver Jonathan Mingo has an extra year but is expected to also go to the Draft. Offensive lineman Nick Broeker will be joining them.
