UAPB’s Evans, Robinson’s Harris receive honors

Two standout linemen recently garnered recognition for their outstanding play this season.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Mark Evans and Joe T. Robinson’s E’Marion Harris were presented with the Willie Roaf Award by the Little Rock Touchdown Club during a private ceremony Friday night at the Double Tree Hotel in Little Rock.

The award, named after Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle and Pine Bluff native Willie Roaf, is presented annually to the top college and high school offensive linemen in Arkansas. Evans and Harris were deemed the best of the best during the 2021 season.

Evans, a 6-4, 295-pound junior, is a two-time, first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference pick and a three-time BOXTOROW All-American for UAPB. He started all 11 games this season and recently said he’d return to the Golden Lions for his final season instead of declaring for this spring’s NFL Draft.

Harris, a 6-7, 350-pound senior, started 58 games in his career at Robinson, with his first coming during 2018 when he was a 13-year-old freshman. This season, the University of Arkansas signee didn’t allow a sack and graded out at 87% to help the Senators win the Class 4A state title.