Mel Kiper - Sleeper of the Week: DeAngelo Evans

Mel Kiper's archive: Sleepers of the Week

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Friday, November 3

Sleeper of the Week: DeAngelo Evans

Editor's Note: Each week Mel Kiper Jr. will highlight one of the intriguing "sleeper" prospects available for the 2001 NFL Draft.

DeANGELO EVANS -- RB -- EMPORIA ST.

Evans looked like a star of the future in the Big 12 when he burst on the national scene as a true freshman with Nebraska back in 1996.

That year, he finished with 14 rushing TDs, while coming through with an eye-catching effort against Kansas State when he carried the ball 21 times for 168 yards. Injuries dogged him over the next two years, although in 1998 he did manage to pick up 146 yards on 13 carries against Washington. After two games in 1999 with the Cornhuskers, Evans quit the team.

He has surfaced this season with Emporia State. Since reporting last spring he has become the featured back in the Hornets offense. His first two games against East Central Oklahoma and Ft. Hays State resulted in sub-100 yard efforts. He enjoyed a solid effort against Central Missouri State, who entered the year ranked as the 25th-best team in Division II.

In that game, Evans carried the ball 16 times for 119 yards. This past week versus Missouri Southern, he finished with 162 yards on 29 carries, despite seeing action only in the first three quarters after the Hornets had built a nice lead.

At the start of fall practice, Evans had dropped his weight from 220 to right around 207. Currently, he's checking in at around 210. Through four games he's averaging 116.5 yards with 5.2 yards per carry, and has scored four touchdowns.

Evans works in both the "I" formation and the single-back set, operating behind an inexperienced offensive line that is starting a pair of freshmen. Evans has a burst out of the blocks, and has shown the ability, even at Nebraska, to break an arm tackle and maintain his balance in traffic.

Thus far at Emporia State, Evans has yet to catch a pass, although with the Huskers, he factored into the equation out of the backfield.

This week, the Hornets face Missouri-Rolla, a game that should see Evans post big rushing numbers. A sterner test for Evans will come against Pittsburgh State on Oct. 14 and NW Missouri State on Oct. 21.

Remaining at full strength the rest of the way is obviously important in the evaluation process, considering the durability problems Evans had during his stay in Lincoln.