Tiyon Evans (Rams) NFL Draft Preview
Post-Draft Fantasy Impact
Tiyon Evans went undrafted in the 2023 draft, but was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent. He joins rookie Zach Evans, second-year Kyren Williams, and Cam Akers in the backfield.
T. Evans didn’t have a ton of hype coming into the draft, and was described as a “raw talent”. It seems like scouts believe he has the ability to grow and succeed in the NFL, but will have to work a ton to get there.
T. Evans also missed a lot of games in college due to ankle injuries, which is probably another reason he slipped in the draft.
Still, Tiyon has enough athleticism that I do believe this is a decent landing spot. The Rams like to run the ball plenty enough, and they really haven’t had a solid starter for some time. Akers looked good to end the season, but he is still dealing with his achilles injury and some other odd issues with the team. Williams still has plenty to prove, and Zach Evans was a sixth-round pick, so not too much draft capital difference.
After Akers, I bet this backfield is wide-open. Zach Evans, Tiyon Evans, Kyren Williams, and Ronnie Rivers will probably be battling this summer and pre-season to be the RB2 for the Rams, so we will have to see how it all shakes out.
Just like other undrafted free agents, we will have to wait and see how the backfield shapes up over the summer before we can decide if Evans is worth drafting. Should he move up the depth chart, Evans could be a decent add on a good offense.
Tiyon Evans NFL Draft Preview
Tiyon Evans isn’t necessarily discussed as a big-time NFL prospect, but he had quite an intriguing college career that makes him a potential hidden gem in this year’s draft.
Evans started his college career at Hutchinson Community College. He rushed for 538 yards and nine touchdowns in his first year there. The following season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evans then enrolled at Tennessee, where he rushed 81 times for 525 yards and six touchdowns in seven games. He caught four passes for 74 yards and one touchdown. Evans entered the transfer portal at the end of the season and committed to Louisville.
Evans rushed 83 times at Louisville for 525 yards and six touchdowns (talk about consistent) in eight games. He only caught six passes for 13 yards. Over his two years in the FBS, Evans averaged 6.4 ypc, making the most out of his limited carries.
Evans also missed time in both FBS seasons with injuries.
He is currently considered a last-day pick.
Measurables
- 5’10” 225 lbs
- 40-yard dash – 4.52 seconds
- Vertical jump – 30.5″
POSITIVES
Tiyon Evans is a good-sized back with a low center of gravity. Coming in at 225 lbs makes him one of the bigger backs of the draft.
Evans isn’t a burner, but he has good speed that allows him to outrun linebackers when bouncing runs outside.
He accelerates into contact and keeps his feet moving to pick up extra yards. Evas has good lateral movement and good start-stop abilities, making him difficult to bring down in space. Evans has soft hands and is decent at pass-catching, although he was rarely used in the passing game.
NEGATIVES
One of Evans’ biggest knocks is that he is not a very smooth runner. He lacks rhythm and tempo and often fails to let blocks form.
He doesn’t have a ton of pass-catching experience, nor does he offer much in the return game.
Evans isn’t the quickest back and won’t outrun many defenders.
He is being considered a “non-factor” as a third-down option, pigeonholing him into more of a committee type of player. He fumbled three times at Lousiville on only 83 carries.
Evans missed time each season with injuries, so he may be more injury-prone than we’d like.
GRADE – C-
Evans had very limited time on the field in college, but he made the most of it with a 6.4 ypc average.
He has good size and initial burst, and his low center of gravity make him tough to bring down.
He doesn’t seem to have much experience in pass-catching, kick-returning, or blocking, making him a very raw talent.
Still, Evans is an intriguing prospect with a ton to prove, and if he works on his pass-catching skills, he could be utilized in most backfields. Until then, it seems like Evans has an uphill battle for playing time.
Happily married father of two boys. I love all sports, although prefer watching them since I’m a wildly mediocre athlete. And that’s why I write fantasy football articles! I’ve been writing for Fantasyfootballcalculator for over six years now. Besides that, I enjoy watching Badger football and basketball even though it raises my blood pressure. In my downtime, I enjoy traveling with my family, playing video games with friends, and golfing.
