Rashaan Evans
Alan Rashaan Evans is an American professional football linebacker. 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 life
A native of Auburn, Alabama, Evans attended Auburn High School, where he was teammates with Reuben Foster. Evans finished with 77 tackles 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. Evans was recognized as an Under Armour All-American in 2014.College career
Evans played college football at the University of Alabama. As a true freshman, he played on special teams in 13 games with 15 tackles 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. 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. In the team's two playoff games in 2016, 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. 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
Tennessee Titans
2018 season
The Tennessee Titans selected Evans in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Evans was the fifth linebacker drafted in 2018. 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.Throughout training camp, Evans competed to be a starting inside linebacker against Will Compton and Jayon Brown. Head coach Mike Vrabel 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 due to a hamstring injury. 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. In Week 13, Evans collected a season-high eight combined tackles during a 26–22 victory against the New York Jets. Evans finished his rookie season with 53 combined tackles 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, 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.2020 season
file:Rashaan Evans 2021 09-19.jpg|thumb|right|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.