'Why Zach Evans?'
Height & Weight
5'10 -- 205lbs
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Ascension grade
Tertiary Option
37.24 -- RB #15
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High-end traits (80th percentile & up)
Non-linear athletic qualities
Movement Economy
Early acceleration
Low-end traits (30th percentile or lower)
Anticipatory qualities
Creativity in short areas
Movement toolbox
In-space solutions
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Stylistic comparison
Elijah Mitchell meshed with Miles Sanders
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Projected role comparison
Secondary/change of pace option as a rusher (Chuba Hubbard)
Violent, downhill back with the accelerative capabilities behind him to slip past linebackers at the second level.
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Can be punishing as a runner - best when he lowers his level and initiates contact.
Evans has this lackadaisical, almost lethargic element to his game that is difficult to describe.
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There are holy s*(^ moments on his tape - but has moments where you have no idea how he was a top prospect at the position coming out of High School.
Has a tendency to deflect contact with a straight arm to create more space in one on one engagements.
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Needs lanes to produce, and can struggle to create behind the LOS, however once he gets two to three steps underneath him he can deliver chunk gains in a blink.
Not an overly diverse through contact skill set, but a punishing one it can be.
Can have difficulty maintaining his balance post-contact, and often stumbles when contact is low and in-direct in path.
This is an area of opportunity & improvement for Evans.
When you pop on his film, you see many focus drops and inefficient hand pathing. Will rely a lot on his acceleration capabilities to chew up ground post-catch on check-downs, screens or swings.
Do not envision a high-volume role as a receiver for Evans due to the current inconsistencies surrounding this part of his game.
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A large part of Evans' upside are the what if's. The upside is a Pro-bowl caliber back, but the inconsistencies are what may push his stock downward.
Strict mover who has struggled to obtain a significant lateral skill set over his time at TCU & Ole Miss.
Most of his toolbox obtains both deflection and contact negation.
He has the underlying athletic qualities to be a better lateral mover, just needs to slow the game down & process a bit more gradually.
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When he does get into space, you can see the combined qualities that make Evans intriguing.
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Watch how he hops outside his blocker (#22) to bait the defender to stay tucked a bit longer - this is the good stuff with Evans. Want to see more consistency with it.
Expectations & Range of outcomes
Difficult to deny Evans' talent. Top running back in his High School recruiting class and a physical skill set that screams 'lead back'
However, you add in the character concerns noted at both schools, and his role being reduced twice - you get a lot of uncertainty surrounding his NFL ceiling.
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Only receiving 15 touches 33% in his collegiate games leads me to believe he will have a secondary role to begin his career.
Not currently expecting fantasy relevance until we see Day 2 capital.