Hogs Lose out on Georgia LB Donta Evans to Ole Miss
Written by Ryan Wright
The Arkansas Razorbacks were one of six teams who had a shot at landing Georgia linebacker Donta Evans on Sunday but in the end lost out to the Ole Miss Rebels.
Arkansas felt they had as good a shot as any school with Evans. Going into his announcement date the Archer High School (Lawrenceville) star knew the lack of depth the Hogs have at linebacker and the potential for early playing time. Arkansas recruited Evans hard but maybe got into the game a little late. By the time the Razorbacks had offered the 6’2”, 230 pound, recruit on Jun. 12 while on campus for an unofficial visit, he had already visited Ole Miss a week earlier.
Per reports Evans had narrowed down his list of favorites to Arkansas, Ole Miss, Auburn, Louisville, Kentucky, and Missouri. Some of the other schools to offer Evans included Virginia, Iowa, Cincinnati, Illinois, N.C. State, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.
The Rebels once again are putting together a Top 15 – Top 10 kind of class. Nineteen total players have committed highlighted by recent IMG Academy quarterback transfer Shea Patterson. Evans joins David Luafatasaga (Arizona Western C.C.) and Tariqious Tisdale (Lexington, TN) as the third linebacker commitment to Mississippi’s 2016 class.
Ole Miss 2016 Verbal Commitment List
CB Greg Eisworth, 5’11”, 182 lbs, South Grand Prairie HS, Grand Prairie, TX
CB Jaylon Jones, 5’11”, 175 lbs, Allen HS, Allen, TX
DE Charles Wiley, 6’2”, 240 lbs, Stockbridge HS, Stockbridge, GA
DT Benito Jones, 6’0”, 280 lbs, Wayne County, Waynesboro, MS
LB Donta Evans, 6’2”, 230 lbs, Archer HS, Lawrenceville, GA
LB David Luafatasage, 6’4”, 225 lbs, Arizona Western C.C., Yuma, AZ
LB Tariqious Tisdale, 6’5”, 247 lbs, Lexington HS, Lexington, TN
OG Jack DeFoor, 6’4”, 270 lbs, Calhoun HS, Calhoun, GA
OG Eli Johnson, 6’3”, 288 lbs, Lafayette HS, Oxford, MS
OT Bryce Mathews, 6’6”, 275 lbs, Brentwood Academy, Brentwood, TN
OG Chandler Tuitt, 6’3”, 260 lbs, Sandy Creek HS, Tyrone, GA
QB Shea Patterson, 6’2”, 194 lbs, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
RB Justin Connor, 5’9”, 186 lbs, North Panola HS, Sardis, MS
RB Denzel Mitchell, 5’10”, 208 lbs, Hamilton HS, Hamilton, AL
RB D’Vaughn Pennamon, 5’10”, 220 lbs, Manvel HS, Manvel, TX
RB Jarrion Street, 6’1”, 203 lbs, Hewitt Trussville, Trussville, AL
TE Gabe Angel, 6’3”, 218 lbs, Cookeville HS, Cookeville, TN
TE Octavious Cooley, 6’2”, 240 lbs, Laurel HS, Laurel, MS
WR DeKaylin Metcalf, 6’3”, 210 lbs, Oxford HS, Oxford, MS
Photo credit: 247sports.com; Donta Evans.