Tar Heels fans wanted change to the way this team recruited in-state and Friday’s commitment of the state’s top in-state prospect shows just how far this team has come in less than a year.
The Tar Heels landed their top remaining target on Friday afternoon when 2020 5✮ WDE Desmond Evans committed to the Tar Heels over Florida, South Carolina and others during Lee County High School’s pep rally. Evans is rated as the No. 22 overall player in the 2020 class and the No. 2 weakside defensive end, according to 247Sports Composite.
Through the first three and a half seasons at the prep level, Evans has racked up 141 total tackles, 35.0 tackles for a loss and 30.0 sacks. As a senior, Evans has 27 total tackles, 10.0 of which are for a loss and 4.0 which are sacks. As a junior a year ago, Evans put together a phenomenal season, where he finished with 69 total tackles, 25.0 tackles for loss and 12.0 sacks. That followed a sophomore season where Evans had 45 total tackles and sacked opposing quarterbacks 14.0 times.
Evans gives the Tar Heels the most versatile pass rusher they brought in as a recruit in years. It all starts with a quick and powerful first step off the line that allows him to get into the opposing backfield quickly. He works the club and rip move about as well as any high school player that I have personally seen on tape. He combines that with enough speed to thrive out of the rush end as a stand-up outside linebacker, but the physicality and bull-in-a-china-shop mentality that could also thrive in the Tar Heels 4i-tech if ever needed. At his size, 6’6, 245 lbs., his frame fits what Jay Bateman wants in his RUSH ends perfectly and his height will be able to alter a quarterback’s throwing lane when he gets his hands up. The comparison that many have used when discussing Evans has been former South Carolina defensive end and current Seattle Seahawks pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney. Another comparison that I like for him is former Kentucky and current Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Josh Allen.
With his commitment, the Tar Heels have added their sixth top 300 player to the class and their first 5✮ commitment since Donte Paige-Moss committed to the Butch Davis and his staff back in 2009. The commitment moves the Tar Heels up one spot to No. 18 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings. The commitment keeps the Tar Heels at 4th in the ACC team rankings, but put them on the doorstep of Miami for 3rd.