Why Evans transferred to Ole Miss from TCU
OXFORD — Zach Evans is ready to be used.
The former five-star running back from Houston transferred to Ole Miss this winter after spending his first two college seasons at TCU. Injuries and scheme limited Evans at TCU, where he averaged more than 7 yards per carry in back-to-back years but averaged fewer than 10 carries per game.
“I think I was underused,” Evans admitted. “Not a knock against (TCU). I’m not saying they don’t know what they were doing. But I feel like I could’ve done a lot more and contributed a lot more to the team.”
Finding a place to contribute at Ole Miss shouldn’t be a problem for Evans. The Rebels have to replace 96.6% of their rushing yards and all 33 of their rushing touchdowns from last year’s squad that led the SEC in carries and touchdowns.
The match between Evans and Ole Miss was a long time coming. Evans’ cousin, D’vaughn Pennamon, played running back and tight end at Ole Miss from 2016-20, experiencing the Hugh Freeze, Matt Luke and Lane Kiffin eras. Evans came to games to cheer on his
cousin and took a visit to Ole Miss after Kiffin was hired. He says he came close to signing with the Rebels out of high school before choosing TCU.
Now, thanks to Ole Miss’ need at running back and Evans’ goals for the future, the time is right to finally pair up.
“The SEC was where I wanted to go,” Evans said of entering the transfer portal. “My top two coming into it were A&M and Ole Miss. But I kind of knew where I wanted to go. I didn’t really want to stay in Texas. It was kind of with the coaching changes but it was really just a better opportunity. Not a knock against
TCU because they’re a great program. But the competition I wanted, the biggest stage, I wanted that.”
Evans sees himself as an every-down back.
He talked about adjusting to Ole Miss’ protection packages and learning to be a better blocker so he profiles better as an NFL prospect.
He said he models different aspects of his game after New Orleans Saints back Alvin Kamara and Cleveland Browns back Nick Chubb. He’s been compared to Kamara because of his versatility and smooth running style but he said he tries to emulate Chubb’s physical and aggressive approach, especially at the point of attack.
247Sports rated Evans as the No. 2 running back and No. 7 overall player in the transfer portal this offseason. Had he committed to Ole Miss out of high school, he would’ve been the fifth-highest-ranked player to ever sign with the Rebels, tied with receiver Laquon Treadwell.
Evans rushed for more than 100 yards in four of the six games he played in last year. Ealy and Conner played in 25 games last year and had five 100-yard performances. That kind of pedigree is hard to ignore, especially given Kiffin’s history of developing NFL running backs such as Reggie Bush, Derrick Henry and Devin Singletary.
The main thing Evans wants to prove is that he can replicate that sort of success in the SEC. He said he feels the Big 12 is viewed as lesser and he wants to use his time at Ole Miss to show he can thrive against anyone.
“I feel like I’ve got a point to prove,” Evans said. “A lot of people feel like the competition in the Big 12 is easier so I just want to show everybody what I can be.”
Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.