Darrynton Evans
 Evans in 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 25 – Chicago Bears | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back Return specialist | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: | July 9, 1998 Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 203 lb (92 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | New Smyrna Beach (New Smyrna, Florida) | ||||||||||||||||
| College: | Appalachian State (2016–2019) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2020 / round: 3 / pick: 93 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||||
| Roster status: | Practice squad | ||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
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Darrynton L.A. Evans (born July 9, 1998) is an American professional football running back and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Appalachian State Mountaineers and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Early life
[edit]Evans attended New Smyrna Beach High School in New Smyrna, Florida. He committed to Appalachian State University to play college football.[1]
College career
[edit]As a true freshman at Appalachian State in 2016, Evans played in 12 games rushing for 217 yards on 48 carries. He also returned 25 kicks for 563 yards and a touchdown. Evans missed 2017 due to injury and redshirted. Returning from the injury in 2018, he entered the season as a backup to Jalin Moore but took over as the starter after Moore was injured for the season, and rushed for 1,187 yards on 179 carries and seven touchdowns.[2] As a kick returner he had 490 yards on 15 returns and had a touchdown. He was named the MVP of the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game after totaling 218 total yards.[3] As a full-time starter in 2019, Evans was the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,480 yards with 2,064 all purpose yards and 24 total touchdowns.[4] He was also named MVP of the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game and 2019 New Orleans Bowl.[5] After the season, he decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL draft.[6]
Professional career
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 10+1⁄8 in (1.78 m) |
203 lb (92 kg) |
31+5⁄8 in (0.80 m) |
9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) |
4.41 s | 1.50 s | 2.60 s | 37.0 in (0.94 m) |
10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) |
20 reps | |||
| All values from NFL Combine[7][8] | ||||||||||||
Tennessee Titans
[edit]Evans was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 93rd overall pick in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.[9][10]
He was placed on injured reserve on October 15, 2020, with a hamstring injury.[11] He was activated on December 7, 2020.[12] In Week 15 against the Detroit Lions, Evans recorded 57 yards from scrimmage and a receiving touchdown during the 46–25 win. This was Evans' first career touchdown.[13]
Evans finished the 2020 season playing in five games with 14 rushes for 54 yards, two receptions for 27 yards and a receiving touchdown, and nine kickoff returns for 206 yards as a backup to rushing yards and touchdowns leader Derrick Henry. He recorded one carry for one yard in the Titans' 20–13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
On September 2, 2021, Evans was placed on injured reserve.[14] He was activated on October 23.[15] On October 29, 2021 he was placed back on injured reserve for a second time ending his season.[16]
On March 10, 2022, Evans was waived by the Titans.[17]
Chicago Bears (first stint)
[edit]On March 11, 2022, Evans was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears.[18] He was waived on August 30, 2022 and signed to the practice squad the next day.[19][20] He was promoted to the active roster on November 27.[21]
Indianapolis Colts
[edit]On March 31, 2023, Evans signed with the Indianapolis Colts.[22] He was waived on May 2, 2023.
Buffalo Bills (first stint)
[edit]On July 25, 2023, Evans signed with the Buffalo Bills.[23] He was released on August 29, 2023.[24]
Miami Dolphins (first stint)
[edit]On August 31, 2023, Evans signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad.[25]
Chicago Bears (second stint)
[edit]On October 9, 2023, Evans was signed by the Bears off the Dolphins practice squad.[26] He was waived on November 16.[27]
Miami Dolphins (second stint)
[edit]On November 21, 2023, Evans was signed to the Dolphins practice squad.[28] On November 23, 2023, Evans was elevated to the active roster.[29] He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.[30]
Buffalo Bills (second stint)
[edit]On January 23, 2024, Evans signed a reserve/future contract with the Bills. He was placed on injured reserve on August 27.[31] He was released on October 29.
Chicago Bears (third stint)
[edit]On November 6, 2024, Evans was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad.
Personal life
[edit]Evans is a Christian. He is married to Aiyana Willoughby.[32] He runs a YouTube and Twitch channel called ItzLiveee.[33]
References
[edit]- ^ Boyle, Chris. "After Christmas commitment, NSB's Darrynton Evans signs with Appalachian State". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online.
- ^ Behr, Steve (August 9, 2019). "Evans takes over starting running back duties". Watauga Democrat. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ Joyce, Ethan (December 5, 2019). "Darrynton Evans' big return (2018 Sun Belt title game)". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ Joyce, Ethan (December 4, 2019). "No. 21 App State's Darrynton Evans, Akeem Davis-Gaither win Sun Belt offensive and defensive player of the year awards". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ Reed, Steve. "Evans' 3 TDs lead Appalachian State to Sun Belt title". The Fayetteville Observer. Associated Press. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ "Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans to enter NFL draft". Gwinnett Daily Post. December 25, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ "Darrynton Evans Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Darrynton Evans College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ Wyatt, Jim (April 24, 2020). "Titans Select Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans in Third Round of the NFL Draft". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- ^ Moraitis, Mike (April 24, 2020). "2020 NFL Draft: Titans select Darrynton Evans with No. 93 pick". Titans Wire. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- ^ Wyatt, Jim (October 15, 2020). "Titans Activate DL Jeffery Simmons from Reserve/COVID-19 List, Place RB Darrynton Evans on Injured Reserve". TennesseeTitans.com.
- ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 7, 2020). "Titans Activate RB Darrynton Evans from Injured Reserve". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Detroit Lions at Tennessee Titans - December 20th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 2, 2021). "Titans Place Three Players on Injured Reserve While Waiving TE Luke Stocker". TennesseeTitans.com.
- ^ Wyatt, Jim (October 23, 2021). "Titans Activate RB Darrynton Evans, DL Larrell Murchison from Injured Reserve". TennesseeTitans.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ^ Wyatt, Jim (October 29, 2021). "Titans Place RB Darrynton Evans on Injured Reserve a Second Time, Ending His 2021 Season". TennesseeTitans.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ Wyatt, Jim (March 10, 2022). "Titans Release Three Players: G Rodger Saffold, OL Kendall Lamm and RB Darrynton Evans". TennesseeTitans.com.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (March 11, 2022). "Roster Move: Bears claim RB Evans off waivers". ChicagoBears.com.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (August 30, 2022). "Roster Moves: Bears reach NFL's 53-man roster limit". ChicagoBears.com.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (August 31, 2022). "Roster Moves: Bears place 14 on practice squad". ChicagoBears.com.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (November 27, 2022). "Roster Moves: Bears add Evans, Peterman, Gates to active roster". ChicagoBears.com.
- ^ "Colts sign RB Darrynton Evans". Colts.com. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ "Report: Bills to sign running back Darrynton Evans". www.audacy.com. July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ Dimmitt, Zach. "'Crazy Story' - But Buffalo Bills Cut RB Darrynton Evans at Deadline". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "Miami Dolphins Sign Eight to Practice Squad". MiamiDolphins.com. August 31, 2023.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (October 9, 2023). "Roster Move: Bears sign RB Darrynton Evans". ChicagoBears.com.
- ^ Sugrue, Brendan. "Bears waive RB Darrynton Evans". Bears Wire. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ "Darrynton Evans: Signs with Miami". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Charean (November 23, 2023). "Dolphins elevate Darrynton Evans with De'Von Achane questionable". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Masala, Mike (January 15, 2024). "Dolphins sign 8 players to reserve/future contracts after 2023 season". USA Today.
- ^ White, Alec (August 27, 2024). "Buffalo Bills made these moves to get to initial 53-man roster | 2024". BuffaloBills.com.
- ^ Doering, Joshua (September 15, 2021). "Titans RB Darrynton Evans gets baptized, engaged in same week: 'Relationship with God will sustain your life'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "ItzLiveee - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
External links
[edit]
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · ESPN · Yahoo! Sports
- Buffalo Bills bio
- Appalachian State Mountaineers bio