Georgia: Interview with Archer High School LB Ole Miss Commit Donta Evans

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

If there are sure things in life like death and taxes and the sun always rises in the east lets go ahead and put Donta Evans hands on the ball carrier with a tackle. The Class of 2016 linebacker is one of the best in the nation and has taken on a bigger challenge to help prove his abilities by switching from Lake Marion High in Santee, South Carolina to Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia in the offseason.

The Gators finished the 2014 season with a 6-5 record with the help of their junior linebacker. The 6’2”, 220 pound, offensive wrecking machine tallied 116 total tackles with 7.0 tackles for a loss solidifying himself among college recruiters as a “must get” prospect. The switch from Lake Marion to Archer is a big step for any player regardless of recruiting star rankings especially when talking about Georgia football. Archer struggled out of the gates in 2014 losing their first three games but then found their grove posting 11 consecutive wins on the way to a state runner-up finish before falling to Colquitt County 28-24 in the Georgia Dome. Evans has stepped into the mix showing he belongs on any field in the nation and at any time even lining up in the backfield as a fullback/H-back blowing open holes for his teammates on offense.

There is an underlying positive character trait regarding Evans to be learned from his transfer, the move from one school to another was not really needed for the linebacker to display his talents for college coaches but shows the competitive nature Evans has within. He already had double-digit offers from schools like Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Virginia, Louisville, N.C. State, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt. On top of all the offers he is committed to Ole Miss, a pledge that went public on August 2, but was a silent commit a couple of weeks before the Rebel fan base and other hopeful college recruiters knew.

The addition of Evans helps restock the talent level in Lawrenceville. Archer is absolutely loaded again for another run at a Georgia state championship with other highly recruited Class of 2016 players like wide receiver Kyle Davis, defensive tackle Kobe Smith (Kentucky), cornerback Dylan Singleton (Duke), and another incoming transfer, offensive tackle E.J. Price (Central Gwinnett). The Tigers are off to a 2-1 record after dropping a 26-24 heartbreaker to Grayson in Week 3 but look primed for all challengers this season.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I caught up with Donta before the Tigers Week 4 game against Parkview to get the inside scoop on how Archer looks going forward, found out about his offseason workouts to prepare for his senior campaign, and got a recruiting update.

Interview

Donta, you transferred from Lake Marion to Archer during the offseason. There is one guy ahead of you that jumped from Lake Marion to the Division-I level with Clemson’s Mike Williams. What was it like for you to have Mike Williams go ahead of you to the college ranks?

“Lake Marion is as old as Archer, seven year old. Mike Williams was the first guy from that school to go to the college level and that made me want to do it.”

Have you talked to Mike Williams before? Does he know that he has been an inspiration for the younger guys coming up through the ranks in Santee?

“Oh yeah. I talk to Mike all the time. He graduated my freshman year. We stay in touch on Snapchat and on Twitter. Yeah, he has definitely been a big influence on me. Seeing him going to Clemson – he fills me in on how big college football is and the experiences that he has and he is having. He lets me know how much fun he is having playing college football. I can’t wait. I’m hungry to play college football.”

You came onto Archer after they had a great run last year, what is it like going from one school that was not on as big of a stage at the end of the season to one playing in the title game a year ago?

“It has definitely been a lot different. Gwinnett County, on ESPN they call it the SEC of high school football. There is a lot more competition and you’re getting a good team week to week. On the other side of the ball you have guys that are going to be playing Division-I football. The speed of the game jumps up. It’s a lot more complicated and fun.

“With that, not only are you playing against better competition but you also have better competition on your team. I’m not trying to put anybody down but I have guys like Kyle Davis, Kobe Smith, Jamyest Williams, and Isiah Pryor (Ohio State 2017 safety commit) on your team. That helps out a lot.

Did you earn any individual honors at the end of your 2014 season?

“I was first-team All-State, first-team All-Area, Region Player of the Week, and I won Hit of the Week once.”

Knowing you were making this big jump, what did you do in the offseason to prepare for your senior year at Archer?

“I’ve always been a very-very hard worker. I didn’t really have to change much. I just worked as hard as possible on speed, strength, and agility and studied the game. I talked to my new coaches about the defense we are running and find out our defensive schemes. Nothing much has changed expect I’m just trying to learn a new defense and gelling with the guys that have already been there.”

You mentioned gelling with the team, how has that transition gone for you?

“It has gone very well. I knew some of the guys before I moved down here. I was being recruited out of South Carolina so I had met a couple of them through visits and camps. I knew a couple of the guys and I knew what I was getting myself into. Actually going into my 11th grade year I trained down here at one of the best training facilities to get some good work in at Georgia Sports Performance in Suwannee, Georgia. Coach (Earl) Williams, Coach (Eric) Johnson, and Coach (Dante) Williams are all great. Some of the coaches played professional football. They definitely got me right with my strength and speed at the linebacker position.”

What did you work on technique wise in the offseason?

“One thing I wanted to work on was my pass coverage abilities because in the league I used to play in there was not too much passing. They didn’t throw the ball a lot. Now I’m facing a lot of pro-style offenses. The trainers at Georgia Sports Performance helped me out with that. It is something I have to keep working on. I’ve done very well so far. I have two pass defended and I actually dropped a pick, the ball went right through my hands. But I’m definitely thankful for those guys. Anything else I can do to keep my game on top I’ll do.”

Did your teammates and coaches rib you about being a stone hands linebacker dropping that interception?

“(Laughing) Yeah. Every coach that has been recruiting me was busting me on that. They are all asking me “how did you drop that?” I don’t know what happened. If I celebrate too early or was already taking it back for six, I don’t know. I saw it and I didn’t look it all the way in and then I was like “Oh my God. I can’t believe I just dropped this on national television.

I am glad I got to show that I can cover on national TV. They showed the game twice.”

How does Archer look for the rest of the 2015 season? You’re three games in, I know you’re just coming off a tough loss, but does the team have another deep run into the playoff ahead?

“We look really good. We just had a couple of mental mistakes as any team will have in a close loss. We had a couple of breakdowns and a couple of busted coverages but nothing that can’t be fixed. It’s not like they blew us out of the game. We played very hard. They kicked a field goal with seven seconds left on the clock. It’s the little things that will set us apart. I feel like we were four touchdowns better than those guys if we had done what we were supposed to do. It didn’t turn out like that. Matter of fact, I know we were four touchdowns better than those guys. We held their offense to nine yards rushing. That’s a testament in itself.”

What are your strengths on the field?

“My strengths are getting downhill, making a play on a running back, and making a play in the backfield. That is my favorite things to do. Send me on a blitz or just sit me in the box and let me run all day. That’s not how the game is anymore. The farther you go the better the teams you are going to play the more versatile you have to be. That’s why I’ve been working on my pass coverage.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“We have three goals: win a championship, make the playoffs, and win a state championship. Personally I just want do whatever I can to help my team reach those three goals. I’m not a selfish guy. As long as I do my job and the man next to me does his job we’ll be set.”

Will we see you at other positions other than linebacker this year? After you dropped that pass we may not see you at tight end catching the ball, but are you going to play some as a blocking back or something like that?

“(Laughing) Actually, yes. I play fullback when we go to our Beef Package. We put Kobe Smith, our D-tackle at 6’3”, 320 pounds, E.J. Price, our offensive tackle, and lower the boom on one side of the ball. They put me in the backfield and I open holes for our Mike linebacker Quinton Miller, he’s 6’2”, 220. We call that our Beef Package and we’ll smash you in the mouth.”

What drew you to commit to Ole Miss back in August?

“I actually committed silently a few weeks before, I just didn’t put it out there. I went down there the first time and hung out with the defensive coordinator. I was hanging out with those guys all day. I was there for about 14 hours. I got up there at about 6:30 to watch a workout and I got to eat in the cafeteria with the players. Later on that day, the D-Coordinator did not leave my side all day long. He went a long way to make me feel special. I actually did not know for sure if I was offered. I knew they were recruiting me real hard and recruiting me like I was already offered. I asked later that day if I was offered. Coach (Dave) Wommack said if I didn’t want you would I have been around you the whole time? I told him that really means a lot.

“During the day, Rashan Gary (defensive tackle Paramus, NJ), he’s the No. 1 player in the country, came in. The defensive coordinator went over and shook his hand and came back and sat with me. That made me feel special to know that he’s supposed to be the No. 1 player in the country and he spent all of this time with me. I really appreciate that.”

When you were going over your pro-con list, what were some of the things that were important to you when narrowing down your decision?

“First, that’d have to have my major and be a good academic program. I was also looking for a great environment, even outside the coaching staff which is a big thing for me. I want to be surrounded by great people and I loved it when I went to Oxford. It’s a small town when it’s not game day but when its game day it’s live out there. On game day the fans are crazy. It’s a great place to be. Like I said, they have a great coaching staff and great people. Not only do they have to be great coaches but the guys, I love all those guys and they love me. I talk to the players and they tell me all a lot of good things. That’s definitely where I want to be.”

You mentioned “your” major, what do you plan on majoring in once in college?

“Kinesiology and business. I’ll major in business and minor in Kinesiology.”

Do you plan on taking all five of your official visits this fall?

“Yes sir, I do.”

Which schools will receive your official visits?

“I’ll definitely go to Ole Miss, of course. Actually – I don’t know yet about the others. I have not talked to my parents yet.”

Have you released your top schools yet?

“The top schools, the schools that I probably will take officials to are my Top Five.”

What were the five schools that you announced?

“Ole Miss, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mizzou, and Auburn.”

Did you attend any one-day college camps this summer?

“We were making our rounds. I was with one of my trainers from Georgia Sports Performance. We were at North Carolina State with a couple of players, Tommon Fox (DE – Collins Hill, Suwanee, GA), he’s a North Carolina commit, and Robert Beal (Norcross), he is a top defensive end in the 2017 class. We stopped by and they asked me to work out and I did. I had a very good day. They actually pushed a lot harder after that camp. The big question about me was can he cover and go one-on-one with a slot, tight end, or a running back out of the backfield. I was eating them up and they were kind of foaming at the mouth.”

What is the best 40-time that you have ran?

“My best 40-time was in February. I ran a 4.62. I have a great 10-yard split. That was a 1.53.”

One last question about recruiting. You mentioned sitting down and talking with your parents before making a decision on where you will take your official visits. Do you have a planned time to sit down with your parents upcoming – sometime in the next couple of weeks?

“Oh yeah. Most definitely because I am graduating in December. I have to figure everything out soon.”

When you watch football on Sundays is there a NFL player you model your game after?

“One player I used to watch was Terrell Suggs (Baltimore Ravens) until he blew out his Achilles. He did that last game so I’m going to have to find someone else to watch.”

What is it about Suggs’ game that you like?

“He can definitely rush the passer and he run stops. He’s very versatile, he’s mean, and he talks a lot of trash. He gets in the heads of the quarterbacks. He’s very entertaining to watch. He makes big plays. He makes his presence known every game and on every play.”

Are you a talker on the field?

“(Laughing) I don’t want to say that. I have my days. I guess you could say every Friday. I’m a pretty chill guy. If you walked into our school you wouldn’t know it’s me on the field. I talk a bit on the field. Not loud where the referees can hear, but I’ll hit you hard and let you know about it.”

I like that. What is your favorite part of playing football?

“The physical aspects of the game. The fact that in the game of football you have to be the man to win the game. You have to be physical and mentally be in the game play in and play out. There is a lot of competition and you have to train hard to be the best.”

Donta, I enjoyed the interview with you. Thanks for taking the time. Good luck the rest of the way.

“Thank you.”

 

Photo credit: Donta Evans; Donta receives an Ole Miss cake for commitment day.

Photo credit: Donta Evans; Donta with Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze.

Photo credit: ajc.com; Donta with the Tigers.