Rashaan Evans

Rashaan Evans

Evans with the Falcons in 2022
No. 43 – Atlanta Falcons
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1995-11-08) November 8, 1995 (age 28) Auburn, Alabama, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:	Auburn
College:	Alabama (2014–2017)
NFL draft:	2018  / round: 1 / pick: 22
Career history
Tennessee Titans (2018–2021) Atlanta Falcons (2022) Philadelphia Eagles (2023)* Dallas Cowboys (2023) Atlanta Falcons (2024–present)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
2× CFP national champion (2015, 2017) First-team All-American (2017) All-SEC (2017)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 485 Sacks: 5.0 Forced fumbles: 2 Fumble recoveries: 5 Interceptions: 2 Pass deflections: 12 Defensive touchdowns: 1 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Alan Rashaan Evans (born November 8, 1995) is an American professional football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Evans has also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys.

Early years

A native of Auburn, Alabama, Evans attended Auburn High School, where he was teammates with Reuben Foster. ^[1] Evans 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. ^[2] 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. ^[2] 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. ^[3] Evans was recognized as an Under Armour All-American in 2014.

College career

Evans in 2018

Evans played college football at the University of Alabama. As a true freshman, he played on special teams in 13 games with 15 tackles (two for loss) and a 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. ^[4] Evans was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference 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. ^[4] In the team's two playoff games in 2016 (his only starts of the year), Evans made 18 tackles from an inside linebacker position. ^[4] He had 53 total for the year, including four sacks, six quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble in 14 games. ^[4] Evans 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

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in (1.88 m)	232 lb (105 kg)	32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m)	10 in (0.25 m)	4.36 s	6.95 s	30 in (0.76 m)	9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
All values from NFL Combine [5] [6]

Tennessee Titans

2018 season

The Tennessee Titans selected Evans in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2018 NFL draft. ^[7] Evans was the fifth linebacker drafted in 2018. ^[8] On May 15, 2018, the Titans signed Evans to a four-year, $11.7 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $6.59 million. ^[9]

Throughout training camp, Evans competed to be a starting inside linebacker against Will Compton and Jayon Brown. ^[10] Head coach Mike Vrabel named Evans a backup inside linebacker to start the regular season, behind Wesley Woodyard and Will Compton. ^[11]

Evans was inactive for the Tennessee Titans' season-opening 27–20 loss at the Miami Dolphins due to a hamstring injury. ^[12] On September 23, 2018, Evans made his first career start, as well as his first career tackle, against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 9–6 Week 3 victory. ^[13] 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. ^[14]

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, Evans recovered a fumble forced by teammate David Long Jr. on running back Damien Williams and returned it for a 53 yard touchdown in the 35–32 victory. ^[15]

2020 season

Evans with the Tennessee Titans in 2021.

In Week 1 against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football , Evans was ejected for throwing a punch at tight end Jake Butt. ^[16]

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. ^[17]

Atlanta Falcons

On April 4, 2022, Evans signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons. ^[18] In Atlanta, he recorded career highs in total tackles, solo tackles, and assists.

Philadelphia Eagles

On September 12, 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Evans to their practice squad. ^[19] He was released three days later. ^[20]

Dallas Cowboys

On October 11, 2023, the Dallas Cowboys signed Evans to their practice squad. ^[21] The Cowboys signed him to their active roster on November 18. ^[22] On December 26, 2023, Evans was arrested in Frisco, Texas for possession of marijuana. He was subsequently waived by the Cowboys on December 27. ^[23]

Atlanta Falcons (second stint)

On October 1, 2024, Evans signed with the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. ^[24] He was promoted to the active roster on November 1.

NFL statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackling				Fumbles				Interceptions
		GP	GS	Comb	Solo	Ast	Sack	FF	FR	Yds	TD	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD
2018	TEN	15	7	53	33	20	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
2019	TEN	16	16	111	69	42	2.5	0	1	53	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0
2020	TEN	16	16	96	59	37	0.5	0	1	25	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	5
2021	TEN	12	11	57	35	22	0.0	1	1	0	0	2	1	0.5	1	0	2
2022	ATL	17	17	159	86	73	2.0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
2023	DAL	9	1	9	4	5	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career		85	68	485	286	199	5.0	2	4	78	1	2	1	0.5	1	0	12

Postseason

Year	Team	Games		Tackling				Fumbles				Interceptions
		GP	GS	Comb	Total	Ast	Sack	FF	FR	Yds	TD	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD
2019	TEN	3	3	18	12	6	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0
2020	TEN	1	1	9	5	4	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0
Career		4	4	27	17	10	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0

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. Growing up in rural Alabama, Evans would chase wild horses to work on improving his speed and athleticism.

References

1. Casagrande, Michael (July 16, 2015). "Alabama teammates sometimes pick on Rashaan Evans, Reuben Foster for being from Auburn". AL.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
2. "Rashaan Evans - Football". University of Alabama Athletics. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
3. "Rashaan Evans, Auburn , Outside Linebacker". 247Sports. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
4. "NFL Draft & Combine Profile - Rashaan Evans". NFL.com . Retrieved April 18, 2020.
5. "NFL Draft Prospect Profile - Rashaan Evans". NFL.com . March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
6. "Alabama OLB Rashaan Evans : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
7. Wyatt, Jim (April 26, 2018). "Titans Take Alabama LB Rashaan Evans in NFL Draft". TitansOnline.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018.
8. "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
9. "Titans sign Rashaan Evans". NFL. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
10. Worsham, Luke (May 5, 2018). "Tennessee Titans: What Rashaan Evans' Presence Means for Jayon Brown". atozsportsnashville.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
11. Cotton, Dan (September 8, 2018). "Titans release depth chart for Week 1". 247sports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
12. "Washington Post: Player stars: Rashaan Evans". stats.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
13. Wyatt, Jim (September 26, 2018). "Titans, Rookie Linebacker Rashaan Evans Seeing Progress". Titansonline.com. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
14. "Rashaan Evans 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
15. "Titans rally, spoil Mahomes' return beating Chiefs 35-32". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
16. Gaydos, Ryan (September 14, 2020). "Titans' Rashaan Evans ejected from game vs. Broncos for throwing punch at Jake Butt". Fox News. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
17. Smith, Michael David (May 3, 2021). "Titans decline Rashaan Evans' fifth-year option". NBCSports.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
18. Bair, Scott (April 4, 2022). "Falcons have signed veteran linebacker Rashaan Evans". AtlantaFalcons.com.
19. "Eagles sign Nicholas Morrow to the active roster, Rashaan Evans to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. September 12, 2023.
20. "Eagles make roster moves following their Week 2 victory". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
21. Eatman, Nick (October 12, 2023). "Roster moves: LB Evans added; Hendershot on IR". DallasCowboys.com.
22. Dallas Cowboys Staff Writers (November 18, 2023). "Updates: Evans signed; Dowdle questionable". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
23. Gehlken, Michael (December 27, 2023). "Released Cowboys LB Rashaan Evans arrested in Frisco for marijuana possession". Dallas News. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
24. Urben, Matt. "Falcons sign linebacker to practice squad, release safety". Falcons Wire. Retrieved October 2, 2024.

External links

• Alabama Crimson Tide bio
• Media related to Rashaan Evans at Wikimedia Commons