Every time Tennessee gets a commitment in either football or men’s basketball, we will write up an impact report looking at what that recruit does well, what we feel can be improved, and what his projected impact with the Vols could be over the next few years.
Latest Commit: Katron Evans, DT
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 320 pounds
School: St. Frances Academy (Maryland)
Home Town: Norfolk, VA
Rankings
247Sports Composite: No. 179 overall, No. 9 DT
247Sports: No. 15 DT
Rivals: 5.9 rating, No. 11 DT
Notable Offers: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State
What we like:
Katron Evans is a true space-eater, but he doesn’t just clog lanes thanks to his size; he’s also capable of getting into the backfield and disrupting plays. Evans has long arms and is strong, showing ability to absorb double teams and still make plays. He doesn’t just free up other linemen to stop the ball carrier, but he’s able to shed blocks and use a surprising amount of athleticism to reach quarterbacks and running backs both. I really like how he attacks off the snap and can redirect during a play. Overall, I think he has a pretty high ceiling as a nose tackle, and I think that’s the role he can play in Tennessee’s 3-4 defense. I could also see him playing a more traditional defensive tackle position, too.
Places to improve:
Evans is pretty impressive, and St. Frances Academy does a good job of preparing their players for the next level. With that being said, I’d like to see Evans use better pad level and hone his techniques a little more. He can get by with being stronger and quicker than offensive linemen in high school, but that won’t always be the case in college. Working on increasing his flexibility and his repertoire of block-shedding moves will be important as well.
Analysis:
It’s rare that a true freshman comes in and competes for a starting role along the defensive line in the SEC, but especially so at nose tackle or in the interior of the line in general. I do really like the potential Evans has and really think he’s going to develop into a strong lineman, though. He has a lot of promise as a nose guard, in my opinion, and his type of explosiveness and play-making at the center of the defensive line can open up a lot of opportunities for other linemen or linebackers. Evans will have a chance to compete for a role as soon as he gets on campus, but I definitely think his greater impact will be felt down the line.
