Samson Joseph Evans (born October 15, 1999) is an American football running back who currently plays for the Eastern Michigan Eagles.

Samson Evans
Eastern Michigan Eagles – No. 22
PositionRunning back
ClassGraduate Student
MajorBusiness
Personal information
Born: (1999-10-15) October 15, 1999 (age 24)
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight217 lb (98 kg)
Career history
College
High schoolPrairie Ridge (Crystal Lake, Illinois)
Career highlights and awards

Early life edit

Evans attended Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and played running back and quarterback on the football team. As a senior, he completed 24 of his 52 passes for 609 yards and eight touchdowns, while rushing for 2,092 yards and 38 touchdowns, and returning two punts for touchdowns.[1] Evans committed to play college football at the University of Iowa over other schools such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Minnesota, and Syracuse.[2][3]

College career edit

Iowa edit

Evans redshirted two season at Iowa before deciding to enter the transfer portal.[4][5]

Eastern Michigan edit

Evans transferred to Eastern Michigan to continue his college career.[6][7] In week five of the 2020 season, Evans would have a good performance rushing for 61 yards and his first career touchdown, as he helped Eastern Michigan get their first win on the season beating Western Michigan 53–42.[8] Evans would finish the 2020 season with 202 yards and a touchdown on 41 carries, while also bringing in six receptions for 46 yards.[9] Evans opened up the 2021 season strong as in week one he rushed for 11 yards and three touchdowns, as helped the Eagles beat Saint Francis 35–15.[10] In week ten, Evans rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns, but Eastern Michigan would fall to Ohio 34–26.[11] Evans finished the 2021 season with 316 yards and 13 touchdowns on 83 carries, while also catching 19 passes for 107 yards.[12] Evans would have a hot start to the 2022 season, rushing for 89 yards and two touchdown, as he helped Eastern Michigan beat Eastern Kentucky 42–34.[13] In week three, Evans rushed for a school record 258 yards and a touchdown in a 30–21 win over Arizona State.[14][15] For his performance, Evans was named the MAC offensive player of the week.[16] In week six, Evans rushed for 90 yards and three touchdowns, as he helped the Eagles beat Western Michigan 45–23.[17] In week eight, Evans rushed for 88 yards and three touchdowns in a 24–21 defeat to Toledo.[18] In the following week, Evans rushed 24 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns, as helped the Eagles become bowl eligible beating Akron 34–28.[19] In Eastern Michigan's season finale, Evans rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown, while also bringing in two receptions for 14 yards, as he helped the Eagles beat Central Michigan 38–19.[20] For his performance, Evans was again named the MAC offensive player of the week, after becoming the Eagles all-time rushing touchdowns leader.[21] In the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Evans rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns to help the Eagles end their season with a 41–27 victory against San Jose State.[22] Evans finished his breakout 2022 season with 1,166 yards and 15 touchdowns on 249 carries, while also hauling in 15 receptions for 93 yards, and throwing a three-yard pass for a touchdown.[23] For his performance, Evans was named-second team all MAC.[24] Evans was named a preseason first-team all MAC ahead of the 2023 season.[25][26] Evans was also named to watch lists of multiple awards, such as the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award.[27][28][29]

Professional career edit

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0 in
(1.83 m)
215 lb
(98 kg)
31 in
(0.79 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.80 s 1.61 s 2.76 s 4.44 s 7.06 s 33.5 in
(0.85 m)
9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)
15 reps
All values from Pro Day[30]

References edit

  1. ^ "Samson Evans Football Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  2. ^ Sanderson, Blair. "Hawkeyes land Samson Evans". Rivals.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  3. ^ Tim, Edgy. "Prairie Ridge's Samson Evans commits to Iowa". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  4. ^ Eickholt, David. "Samson Evans enters NCAA Transfer Portal". 247Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  5. ^ Taylor, John. "Iowa sees second player in three days enter the transfer portal". NBC Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. ^ Read, Robert. "Former Iowa running back Samson Evans transfers to Eastern Michigan". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  7. ^ Stepien, Garrett. "Iowa running back Samson Evans transfers to Eastern Michigan". 247Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Saturday's state football: Eastern Michigan gets 1st win, 53-42 over Western Michigan". The Detroit News. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Samson Evans 2020 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Evans 3 TDs lifts E. Michigan past St. Francis (PA) 35-15". CBS Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Rourke's 3 TD passes, strong ground game lead Ohio past EMU". CBS Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Samson Evans 2021 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  13. ^ "EMU football opens 2022 with another 1-score win, 42-34, over Eastern Kentucky". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  14. ^ Thompson, Jack. "Evans rushes for 257 yards and Eastern Michigan defeats Arizona State". The Detroit News. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  15. ^ Giard, Jojo. "Eastern Michigan Sets Record With Stunning Win Over Arizona State". WFGR. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  16. ^ Wickliffe, Greg. "EMU football sweeps MAC Player of the Week honors following upset of Arizona State". MLive.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Eastern Michigan rolls past Western Michigan 45-23". CBS Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Gleason leads Toledo comeback over Eastern Michigan, 27-24". CBS Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Eastern Michigan football becomes bowl eligible with 34-28 win over Akron". The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Powell leads Eastern Michigan over Central Michigan 38-19". CBS Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  21. ^ "MAC Announces Week 13 Football Players of the Week". Mid-American Conference. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  22. ^ "E. Michigan beats San Jose St. in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl". CBS Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Samson Evans 2022 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  24. ^ "MAC Announces 2022 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams". Mid-American Conference. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  25. ^ Lassan, Steven. "MAC Football 2023 All-Conference Team". Athlon Sports.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  26. ^ "2023 Preseason All-MAC Team: Ohio's Kurtis Rourke, Jacoby Jones and Sam Wiglusz make the first team". PFF. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Three MAC Student-Athletes Named to 2023 Doak Walker Award Watch List". Mid-American Conference. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  28. ^ Londergan, Joe. "G5 Players on the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List". Athlon Sports.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Eastern Michigan's Evans, Ohio's Rourke Tabbed to Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List". Mid-American Conference. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  30. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Samson Evans College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.

External links edit