Ole Miss running back Zach Evans drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 6th Round
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss running back Zach Evans was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams Saturday in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Evans was the 38th pick of the round and the 215th pick overall. The Rams traded up to get the former Rebel standout.
Zach Evans to the @RamsNFL ‼️@Runzekerun01 | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Vv6ltdefze
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 29, 2023
Last season, Evans carried the ball 144 times for 936 yards and nine touchdowns for the Rebels — while sharing time with freshman sensation Quinshon Judkins.
Evans averaged 6.9 yards per carry over the span of his two years at TCU and one year at Ole Miss. He has the ability to run both inside and outside of the offensive tackles.
Many have raved about his balance at the point of contact which can turn defenders into would-be tacklers. His unofficial 4.45 40-yard dash time at pro day should serve him well at the next level when he finds a crease in defenses.
Explosive Speed 🧨@Runzekerun01 | #ProMindset pic.twitter.com/upHuZwN9Ah
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 26, 2023
The skinny on Zach Evans according to NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein:
“Evans’ career average of 6.9 yards per carry demonstrates his home run ability, but nagging injuries have limited him in the last two seasons…He has lead back size and impresses with his willingness to fight through contact for additional yardage on most runs….the talent/traits should put him in contention for early carries as a very good complementary back with future RB1 upside.”
Evans’ Strengths
- Body composition of an NFL lead back.
- Burst is sudden and explosive.
- Can bounce runs wide and beat pursuit to the corner.
- Quick to process and elude versus penetration.
- Slashes through leg tackles with contact balance.
- Top-end speed for long house calls.
- Consistently adds yards to the carry with power.
Zach is the third Rebel taken in this year’s draft as Jonathan Mingo and Tavius Robinson were drafted earlier. Stay tuned for more info on Zach and all our other NFL Rebels!
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
