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If you're on the crootin tracks and not on the Ole Miss train, get out of the way. Hugh Freeze and Co. strike again as three-star linebacker Donta Evans has committed to Ole Miss. The Lake Marion, S.C. native turned Lawrenceville, Ga. resident recently made a visit to Oxford, Miss. to check out the campus and meet with Freeze and defensive coordinator/linebackers' coach Dave Wommack. Evidently the meeting went well because Evans made the call shortly after leaving the Magnolia State. Once again, the Ole Miss staff goes into someone else's backyard and snags a ballplayer.
Evans chose the Rebels over a large offer list of Power 5 programs. The Rebels once again beat out big names like Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Kentucky, Louisville, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee for a croot's services. But, the main defeat that was laid down on the no-holds barred dark alleys of the crootin world was Auburn and Will Muschamp. Good ole Coach Puncho made Evans a priority and was his primary recruiter, but eventually lost to the 4-2-5 Guru. Now playing high school football at Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Ga., Evans looks to have a big senior season to prepare him for SEC football.
HOTTY TODDY!!! #HottyToddy #GoRebs pic.twitter.com/MbIqQoWnzD
— Donta Evans II (@DontaEvans) August 2, 2015
You might remember Mr. Evans from a couple weeks back in the #Network Files when he pulled the "hey, let's take a picture...but I'm really recording a video" prank on the Auburn coaches. This was great because, well, it's Gus Malzahn and he's a goober.
Quite possibly THE most important thing about Evans' commitment is that he is a December graduate. Even more important, he is Ole Miss' eighth early enrollee commitment.
How does he fit in?
One of the main things that caught Wommack's attention is that Davis is already 6'3, 230-pounds. After realizing that some programs are reverting back to "old school SEC football" and running the ball primarily between the tackles, the Rebels have started to stockpile larger inside backers (i.e. Shawn Curtis and David Luafatasaga). The Archer High School student-athlete brings a physical game to the Rebels' second level as well as sideline-to-sideline speed. And it is no secret that the Rebels are thin at linebacker so he should be able to come in and compete for playing time early.
When watching Evans on film, you see his ability to fight through traffic in the trenches and make plays. If he moves to the outside he shows great technique at the point of attack to use his hands to shed blockers and punish whoever is in his way. As a junior at Lake Marion High School in Santee, S.C., Evans racked up 116 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, three sacks.and two forced fumbles. Bottom line, Evans is your prototypical middle linebacker who seems to enjoy contact and has a considerably angry disposition when between the white lines. He will fit right in with the Landshark D.