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<!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention -->@TerryP<!-- END TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention --> the last few sentences are telling, you touched on this briefly about how he'd fit into respective defensive systems.
http://www.oanow.com/sports/high_school/_football/article_89087098-8e83-11e3-bda3-0017a43b2370.html
Auburn High's Rashaan Evans commits to Alabama
Tom Green | Prep Sports Writer
Posted: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 10:35 am
Rashaan Evans is exchanging his blue and white for crimson and white.
The Auburn High five-star linebacker, regarded as the top uncommitted recruit in the nation entering National Signing Day, committed to Alabama on Wednesday, ending months of speculation during what Evans described as a stressful recruiting process.
Evans is considered by most recruiting services to be the No. 1 outside linebacker prospect in the 2014 class. He is viewed as the top recruit in Alabama and among one of the most coveted players in the nation and was down to three finalists ā Auburn, Alabama and UCLA ā before ultimately choosing to sign with the Tide.
That decision, however, did not come easy for Evans.
As of late Tuesday night, Evans said he still had not made a final choice and that it would likely be a ālast-minute thingā between Auburn, Alabama and UCLA. Even Wednesday morning, as he went through his morning routine at his Auburn home, Evans was noticeably anxious.
As his mother prepared breakfast ā grits, biscuits and sausage patties ā shortly before 7 a.m., Evans told her he didnāt have much of an appetite.
āYouāre not hungry because youāre nervous,ā she said.
He sat down at the kitchen table with a plate full of grits and three sausage biscuits, frequently checking his phone as he heard from a handful of fellow recruits and players and occasionally looked up at the living room TV, which was tuned into ESPNUās National Signing Day coverage.
His head popped up from his plate and toward the TV as he heard an analyst say his name. He sucked his teeth and shook his head, clearly ready for the process to be done with.
āItās almost like NFL Draft day,ā his father, Alan, said.
Rashaan was done eating, but he didnāt finish his breakfast, managing to consume just one of the three biscuits ā a fitting sign on a day he was choosing between the Tigers, Crimson Tide and Bruins.
Over the last several weeks, Evans has hosted coaches from all three schools, including head coaches Gus Malzahn, Nick Saban and Jim Mora, as well as a handful of assistant coaches.
He told the Opelika-Auburn News in the weeks leading up to National Signing Day that he felt an immense amount of pressure mounting from all three fanbases, particularly within the Auburn community, where he felt many wanted him to be a āhometown heroā by staying in town with the resurgent Tigers.
He added that he felt pressure from Alabama fans, as well, who wanted to see if he could āgo against the grainā and choose the Tide over his hometown team. The pressure surrounding his recruitment grew over the last several months as Evans put together a stellar senior campaign, racked up accolades and dazzled in All-Star games.
He totaled 54 tackles, including 17 sacks and another 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage while guiding the Tigers to a region championship and their first appearance in the Super 6. He also had 20 quarterback hurries, five pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
He was named the ASWA Class 6A Lineman of the Year, earned All-State and Opelika-Auburn News All-Area first-team honors, and he was also named the Opelika-Auburn News Defensive Player of the Year.
On Sunday, Evans was named a first-team Parade All-American ā an honor his father, Alan, also earned in the 80s ā at linebacker. He was also an Under Armour All-American and an Alabama-Mississippi All-Star ā even earning Alabama team MVP honors at the game in Montgomery in December.
As he dressed for school, both his mother and father comforted him with some last-minute advice.
āYou got to do whatever is best for you,ā Alan told Rashaan, placing his hand on his shoulder. āWhatever you decide, weāre going to support you.ā
That didnāt do much to ease his nerves, though, as he spent the last two hours leading up to his announcement holed up inside of Auburn High coach Tim Carterās office and pacing the weight room inside the
Auburn High Fieldhouse before his father once again joined him to calm his nerves.
When all was said and done, though, Evans was seemingly at peace with his decision. In the weeks leading up to signing day, Evans spoke fondly of his relationship with Saban, specifically citing the Alabama coachās honesty during the recruiting process ā something Evans had said would be key in making his ultimate decision.
āOver the past few weeks Iāve learned a lot about Coach Saban,ā Evans said on Jan. 24. āIāll be honest with you, heās one of the most kind-hearted coaches Iāve met. Heās honest. Heās honest about everything he says. Heās not going to tell you youāre going to start.
āHe tells you youāre going to go through the process and weāll see what happens then. Heās straight up with me, and thatās what I like in a coach.ā
http://www.oanow.com/sports/high_school/_football/article_89087098-8e83-11e3-bda3-0017a43b2370.html
Auburn High's Rashaan Evans commits to Alabama
Tom Green | Prep Sports Writer
Posted: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 10:35 am
Rashaan Evans is exchanging his blue and white for crimson and white.
The Auburn High five-star linebacker, regarded as the top uncommitted recruit in the nation entering National Signing Day, committed to Alabama on Wednesday, ending months of speculation during what Evans described as a stressful recruiting process.
Evans is considered by most recruiting services to be the No. 1 outside linebacker prospect in the 2014 class. He is viewed as the top recruit in Alabama and among one of the most coveted players in the nation and was down to three finalists ā Auburn, Alabama and UCLA ā before ultimately choosing to sign with the Tide.
That decision, however, did not come easy for Evans.
As of late Tuesday night, Evans said he still had not made a final choice and that it would likely be a ālast-minute thingā between Auburn, Alabama and UCLA. Even Wednesday morning, as he went through his morning routine at his Auburn home, Evans was noticeably anxious.
As his mother prepared breakfast ā grits, biscuits and sausage patties ā shortly before 7 a.m., Evans told her he didnāt have much of an appetite.
āYouāre not hungry because youāre nervous,ā she said.
He sat down at the kitchen table with a plate full of grits and three sausage biscuits, frequently checking his phone as he heard from a handful of fellow recruits and players and occasionally looked up at the living room TV, which was tuned into ESPNUās National Signing Day coverage.
His head popped up from his plate and toward the TV as he heard an analyst say his name. He sucked his teeth and shook his head, clearly ready for the process to be done with.
āItās almost like NFL Draft day,ā his father, Alan, said.
Rashaan was done eating, but he didnāt finish his breakfast, managing to consume just one of the three biscuits ā a fitting sign on a day he was choosing between the Tigers, Crimson Tide and Bruins.
Over the last several weeks, Evans has hosted coaches from all three schools, including head coaches Gus Malzahn, Nick Saban and Jim Mora, as well as a handful of assistant coaches.
He told the Opelika-Auburn News in the weeks leading up to National Signing Day that he felt an immense amount of pressure mounting from all three fanbases, particularly within the Auburn community, where he felt many wanted him to be a āhometown heroā by staying in town with the resurgent Tigers.
He added that he felt pressure from Alabama fans, as well, who wanted to see if he could āgo against the grainā and choose the Tide over his hometown team. The pressure surrounding his recruitment grew over the last several months as Evans put together a stellar senior campaign, racked up accolades and dazzled in All-Star games.
He totaled 54 tackles, including 17 sacks and another 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage while guiding the Tigers to a region championship and their first appearance in the Super 6. He also had 20 quarterback hurries, five pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
He was named the ASWA Class 6A Lineman of the Year, earned All-State and Opelika-Auburn News All-Area first-team honors, and he was also named the Opelika-Auburn News Defensive Player of the Year.
On Sunday, Evans was named a first-team Parade All-American ā an honor his father, Alan, also earned in the 80s ā at linebacker. He was also an Under Armour All-American and an Alabama-Mississippi All-Star ā even earning Alabama team MVP honors at the game in Montgomery in December.
As he dressed for school, both his mother and father comforted him with some last-minute advice.
āYou got to do whatever is best for you,ā Alan told Rashaan, placing his hand on his shoulder. āWhatever you decide, weāre going to support you.ā
That didnāt do much to ease his nerves, though, as he spent the last two hours leading up to his announcement holed up inside of Auburn High coach Tim Carterās office and pacing the weight room inside the
Auburn High Fieldhouse before his father once again joined him to calm his nerves.
When all was said and done, though, Evans was seemingly at peace with his decision. In the weeks leading up to signing day, Evans spoke fondly of his relationship with Saban, specifically citing the Alabama coachās honesty during the recruiting process ā something Evans had said would be key in making his ultimate decision.
āOver the past few weeks Iāve learned a lot about Coach Saban,ā Evans said on Jan. 24. āIāll be honest with you, heās one of the most kind-hearted coaches Iāve met. Heās honest. Heās honest about everything he says. Heās not going to tell you youāre going to start.
āHe tells you youāre going to go through the process and weāll see what happens then. Heās straight up with me, and thatās what I like in a coach.ā
