AN EXCITING FOOTBALL CAREER FOR DARNELL EVANS

Darnell Evans, Madison High School alumnus, has made a name for himself in national college football.   In August he was named One Of HBCU’s Top Five Players to Watch and if you haven't been watching you've missed out on something truly amazing. 

"You're never too small to play...it's all heart."  From the Raleigh News Observer in October:

Darnell Evans, cornerback, Shaw

Darnell Evans wasn’t always the smallest guy in the crowd.

“When I was younger, I was actually bigger than everybody,” he said. “Everybody started growing and I just stopped, so it really wasn’t an issue because I just loved the sport so much that I’d go out there and play regardless of how big the other guys are.”

Today, the senior cornerback is dwarfed by many of his defensive teammates.

He’s listed at 5-9, 181 pounds, but says he’s closer to 5-7.

That didn’t stop him from breaking the program’s career interceptions record last month. Evans had 20 leading into Saturday’s game at Fayetteville State.

“He’s deserving of it,” said Shaw coach Robert Massey. “He’ll put that record out of reach before he’s done here.”

Evans walked on at Shaw after spending a year in community college after high school.

“It was tough. I really wanted to play football,” Evans said, adding that his grades weren’t up to par after high school, but recruiters also overlooked the small school he attended in Madison, N.J. “I got one Division III look, and they don’t give scholarships. I felt like a lot of programs slept on me, so that really fueled me.”

Evans was named to the preseason All-CIAA team as a cornerback and kick returner. He was named a second team All-American as a defensive back.

“I think when (opponents) first see me, they think ‘this guy’s little,’” he said. “I’m always going to get that, so I’m used to it. I’m ready for it. ... but it doesn’t really matter how big or fast or how strong you are. It’s if you have heart. It’s how you play the game and your knowledge of the game, it has nothing to do with size.”

This week Evans was named CIAA Special Teams Player of the Year as well as being named First Team All-CIAA at cornerback, punt returner and kick returner.  Evans (5-8, 185, Sr., Madison, NJ) led Division II in interceptions with 11 on the season, three ahead of the player in second place.  He also led the nation in interception return yards with 297.  In addition, he finished second in the nation in passes defended with 21.  He amassed 37 tackles this season, including two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and three tackles for a loss.  He was named CIAA Defensive Back of the Week three times during the season. 

 As a kick returner, Evans finished with 16 punt returns with an average of 29.2 yards per return -- good for second in the conference.  Evans finished the season with ten punt returns -- ranking him fourth in the conference -- and averaged 15.5 yards per return, third best among those with eight returns or more.

Evans finished the season atop Division II in interceptions.   He also finished second in the nation in passes defended, which combines interceptions with passes broken up.  The cornerback had 10 pass break ups in addition to the 11 interceptions.

Other Season Highlights

·         Senior Day, November 9th

Prior to the game, Shaw honored 19 seniors as part of the Senior Day activities.  Perhaps no senior had a brighter career than cornerback Darnell Evans, who ended his Shaw career as the school's career interception leader.  He put an exclamation point on his career hauling in one today -- giving him a nation-leading 11 for the season.

 "He's a very special young man and has a special story to tell," said Massey.  "He started as a walk on and now is the career interception leader.  I think he's got what it takes to make it to the NFL.  He's got the skills and all the intangibles.  They'll try to say he's too small, but I've seen smaller out there.  It's been an honor to coach him."

·         Darnell Evans Powers Shaw Past Fayetteville State 44-34

Oct. 12th - FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - With the final seconds ticking off the clock, Shaw University's Darnell Evans strode down the sideline, slapping hands with each of his teammates, tears in his eyes.  Seconds before, Evans had picked off his third pass of the afternoon and returned it for a touchdown to cement a Shaw comeback, giving the Bears a 44-34 win over Fayetteville State Saturday at Jeralds Stadium on the FSU campus.

Decked out in pink tape and wristbands in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Evans explained his emotion.  "October's always a big month for me.  My aunt passed away from breast cancer, so this month is really means a lot to me." 

He continued, "And I shook my team's hands - I love every single one of my teammates.  They come to work every day - it's hot, it's raining.  I just wanted to congratulate them because we did it as a team.  Even though big players made big plays, that's football.  We did it as a team."

·         September 14th:  Darnell Evans - playing in front of over 30 friends and family who had driven down from his native New Jersey - picked off his first pass of the evening.  With the interception, he broke the Shaw career interception record, which had been 17.  He would add another interception in the fourth to put the career mark at 19.  Evans not only broke the Shaw career interception but also broke the career record of Coach Massey (http://www.shawbears.com/sports/fball/coaches/Massey ).  Asked which held the most significance for him, Evans said "passing Coach Massey's interception  record was definitely more significant for me".

·         2011 All-CIAA Preseason Team

·         2010 All-CIAA 1st team, All-Rookie Team, Defensive Rookie of the Year, CIAA Defensive Back week 3

You can read more about Evans at these previous Madison Patch stories: http://madison.patch.com/groups/sports/p/progress-name-of-the-game-for-gridder-darnell-evans;  http://madison.patch.com/groups/schools/p/madisons-evans-selected-as-preseason-football-all-america.

Is it coincidence that his jersey is #1?  Remember the name because he is the one to watch.  An exceptional athlete, an exceptional young man.