TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — He didn’t have a tackle, and was only credited with a hurry, but that flash regularly seen during the University of Alabama’s game against Auburn was Rashaan Evans.
The promising freshman linebacker wearing No. 32 was a regular on kickoff coverage and inserted in numerous pass-rush situations, when he was frequently quickly worked his way into the backfield.
“Rashaan has done a good job for us developing all year long,” Coach Nick Saban said. “He’s got some special quickness in pass rush.
“We have a lot of confidence in Rashaan that he can go in there and give us some pass rush, give us some minutes. He did a really good job of pressuring the quarterback. He plays with great effort. I’m really pleased with what he was able to do when he got the opportunity last night.
Evans might have had a little extra incentive against Auburn as well.
Considered the one of the top outside linebackers in the signing Class of 2014, the Parade All-American and five-star prospect out of Auburn High School.
So he and his family heard about it when he chose Alabama over the hometown team.
“We had lots of conversations with his family, because they were concerned about their circumstance of being where they were and the decision they were going to make and how people would to react to it and I said, ‘However many people you think you’re not going to make happy there you’re going to make a lot more people happy here,’ and that’s exactly what happened,” Saban said in February. “We’re excited about getting a fine young man who has such talent in our program and is such a good fit from a position standpoint at outside linebacker.”
Playing special teams is a normal stepping-stone with the Crimson Tide, but for a freshman force his way on the field with this deep front seven is saying a lot. De’Shawn Hand, a five-star prospect at defensive end has played in eight games, and defensive tackle Josh Frazier has played in five.
Evans has been in 10 games this season, but has been slowing getting more playing time over the second half of the season. He’s been credited with 13 tackles, including two for a loss and a sack.
But with Auburn running 90 offensive plays against Alabama, it was players like Evans, sophomore linebacker Tim Williams and junior lineman D.J. Pettway who kept the pressure up during the stretch in second half when the Crimson Tide scored five touchdowns while the Tigers only managed a field goal.
They’ll likely be just as needed against Missouri in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game (4 p.m. ET, CBS).
“He’s come along better than anybody expected,” sophomore defensive end Jonathan Allen said about Evans. “We just feed off the extra boost he brings. He’s a versatile edge. He’s done a great job maturing throughout the season.”
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
