Drafting a punter is not a season or franchise-changing kind of selection. But punter and kicker Ethan Evans out of Wingate University is an absolute hidden gem of a pick for the Los Angeles Rams.
But as far as 2023 is concerned, analysts and Rams watchers alike are of the mindset that Los Angeles is due for a disastrous season. Catastrophic. It could be the kind of campaign that could yield the first-overall pick right from their own backyard. But with 2024 a long way off, the business at hand is who will play where, and how many rookies could have an impactful season.
Ethan Evans Is the Hidden Gem for the Los Angeles Rams n 2023
Ethan Evans is something of a rare gem. Seldom do you find one player who can kick and punt, but in a league where specialists like Evans could be had for cheap, he is also a friendly financial investment. For a team that does not accept the garden variety kind of kicker, the Rams did exceedingly well with this pick.
Ladies and gentlemen… we have a punter.
Welcome to LA, Ethan Evans! pic.twitter.com/cf3U7icCKQ
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 29, 2023
The 223rd overall pick in this year’s draft, Evans attempted 77 punts averaging 45.7 yards per punt in 2022. The Rams could add a veteran into the mix this offseason, but the Wingate product will certainly get an opportunity to be the starting punter for the Rams this season and beyond.
Evans Takes His Small School Talent to the NFL
Former Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden once said about punter Ray Guy, that “Guy was a football player who punted“. Guy was a weapon on the field. He could change the trajectory of a game with one punt. No one, it seemed, could hit “coffin-corner” on the regular like Ray Guy.
At Wingate, Evans ended up becoming one of the all-time best special team players in school history. His career spanned from the 2019 season to 2022. He was their starting punter and handled kickoff duties in all four seasons. He would handle field goals and extra points as a senior. Evans would have his best year in 2022. He had 67 kickoffs for 4,180 yards with a 62.4 average. He would add 44 touchbacks, and 77 punts for 3,518 yards. For a season, he averaged 45.69 yards per punt, a total that ranked second-best in the NCAA Division II.
Want more? Evans also had 39 punts inside the 20 and 30 that went more than 50 yards. He kicked 10-for-18 on field goals with a long of 41, as well as 43-of-44 on extra points. Evans twice was named the national player of the week by D2Football.com. Evans would also be a first-team all-conference, all-region, and a D2CCA first-team All-American. He also was a first-team All-American by AP.
Ethan Evans appeared in 39 games and made 186 punts for 8,027 yards, with an average of 43.2 yards per punt. He would have 47 fair catches, 53 punts for more than 50 yards, and 89 inside the 20-yard line.at the end of the season, Evans would accept and appear in the East-West Shrine Bowl in 2023, being only four division-one to do so.
