Alan Rashaan Evans (born November 8, 1995) is an
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
linebacker
Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, ...
for the
Atlanta Falcons of the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
(NFL). He was drafted by the
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their hom ...
in the first round of the
2018 NFL Draft. He played
college football at
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
.
High school career
A native of
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama, with a 2020 population of 76,143. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a population ...
, Evans attended
Auburn High School, where he was teammates with
Reuben Foster
Reuben Foster (born April 4, 1994) is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. A consensus All-American in high school, Foster was regarded as the best linebacker prospect of his class before committing to Alabama, where he played ...
. He finished with 77 tackles (including 43 tackles for loss) and 17.5 sacks as a senior in high school, while adding five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery.
He was recognized as first team ASWA 6A All-State selection as a junior in 2012 and also played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.
Evans was a five-star outside linebacker according to 247Sports, rated the eleventh best player in the country; the number one outside linebacker in the country; and the second highest recruit from the state of Alabama behind fellow Alabama commit Marlon Humphrey. He was recognized as an Under Armour All-American in 2014.
College career
![Rashaan Evans Jan 2018 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Rashaan_Evans_Jan_2018_2.jpg)
Evans played college football at the University of Alabama. As a true freshman, Evans played on special teams in 13 games with 15 tackles (two for loss) and one sack. As a sophomore, Evans again mostly played as a special teamer and reserve outside linebacker in 2015, though his two sacks against Clemson in the national championship victory that season put him on many scouts' radars.
Evans was a second-team All-SEC pick in 2017, starting 12 games, tying for the team lead with 74 tackles, leading the team with 13 tackles for loss, making six sacks, and breaking up three passes.
In the team's two playoff games in 2016 (his only starts of the year), Evans made 18 tackles from an inside linebacker position.
He had 53 total for the year, including four sacks, six quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble in 14 games.
He started 14 games over his final two seasons and appeared in three CFP National Championship contests with two victories.
Evans graduated from Alabama in December 2017 with a degree in psychology.
Professional career
Tennessee Titans
The
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their hom ...
selected Evans in the first round (22nd overall) of the
2018 NFL Draft. Evans was the fifth linebacker drafted in 2018.
2018 season
On May 15, 2018, the Tennessee Titans signed Evans to a four-year, $11.7 million contract that includes a
signing bonus of $6.59 million.
Throughout training camp, Evans competed to be a starting inside linebacker against
Will Compton and
Jayon Brown. Head coach
Mike Vrabel
Michael George Vrabel (; born August 14, 1975) is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he earned con ...
named Evans a backup inside linebacker to start the regular season, behind
Wesley Woodyard and Will Compton.
Evans was inactive for the Tennessee Titans’ season-opening 27-20 loss at the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team p ...
due to a
hamstring
In human anatomy, a hamstring () is any one of the three posterior thigh muscles in between the hip and the knee (from medial to lateral: semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris). The hamstrings are susceptible to injury.
In quadrupe ...
injury. On September 23, 2018, Evans made his first career start, as well as his first career tackle, against the
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The team pla ...
in a 9-6 Week 3 victory. In Week 13, Evans collected a season-high eight combined tackles (six solo) during a 26-22 victory against the
New York Jets. Evans finished his rookie season with 53 combined tackles (33 solo) and a pass deflection in 15 games and seven starts.
2019 season
In Week 4, Evans made 10 combined tackles and made his first NFL sack during a 24-10 road win at the
Atlanta Falcons. Evans was credited with half a sack after he sacked
Matt Ryan with teammate
Isaiah Mack. During Week 10 against the
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The ...
, Evans recovered a fumble forced by teammate
David Long Jr.
David Lamont Long Jr. (born October 12, 1996) is an American football linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at West Virginia.
Early life
When Long was seven years old, he was on th ...
on running back
Damien Williams and returned it for a 53 yard touchdown in the 35–32 victory.
2020 season
file:Rashaan Evans 2021 09-19.jpg, Evans with the
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their hom ...
in 2021.
In Week 1 against the 2020 Denver Broncos season, Denver Broncos on ''Monday Night Football'', Evans was ejected for throwing a punch at tight end Jake Butt.
2021 season
The Titans declined to exercise the fifth-year option on Evans' contract on May 3, 2021, making him a free agent after the 2021 season.
Atlanta Falcons
On April 4, 2022, Evans signed a one-year contract with the
Atlanta Falcons.
NFL statistics
Regular season
Postseason
Personal life
Evans is the second oldest of five children. He has one younger brother and three sisters. His father, Alan, was a running back at
Auburn, and his mother, Chenavis, received four degrees from Auburn, including her doctorate. Evans' older sister was a cheerleader at Auburn, and, despite the family ties including his cousins attending Auburn, Evans chose to attend
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
. Growing up in rural Alabama, Evans would chase wild horses to work on improving his speed and athleticism.
References
External links
Alabama Crimson Tide bioTennessee Titans bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Rashaan
1995 births
Living people
Alabama Crimson Tide football players
American football linebackers
Auburn High School (Alabama) alumni
Players of American football from Alabama
Sportspeople from Auburn, Alabama
Tennessee Titans players
Atlanta Falcons players