Ethan Evans

Ethan Evans's Biography

Ethan Gray Evans, a football prodigy from Mount Airy, North Carolina, was born on July 19, 2001. His career in football spurred from a young age, and the world witnessed his transformation from a high school athlete to a professional NFL player. The journey which was initiated from North Surry High School, where Evans first dabbled in football and track, led him to his place as a professional football punter for the Los Angeles Rams.

In high school, Evans was more than an average student; he was a member of the National Honor Society while setting several kicking records simultaneously. His longest made field goal was an impressive distance of 51 yards, bolstering his reputation as an exceptional player. Further, his records of the most career field goals (17) and the most career extra points (77) cemented his place as an unparalleled footballer in his school. Recognizing his prowess, he was named the Western Piedmont 2A Conference Specialist of the Year twice, and was even invited to the state’s prestigious East-West All-Star Game as a participant, a paramount achievement considering he was the first from North Surry to receive this honor in 23 years and only the eighth overall.

Post his stellar high school performance, he committed to the Division II Wingate Bulldogs, where he experienced substantial career growth. In his tenure from the 2019 season to 2022, Evans emerged as one of the premier special teams players at Wingate. His roles expanded; he was appointed the starting punter, managed kickoff duties across all four seasons, and even handled extra fields goals and points during his senior year.

As a senior, Evans outdid himself, posting 67 kickoffs for 4,180 yards and averaging 62.4. Achieving 44 touchbacks and 77 punts for 3,518 yards, he averaged 45.69 yards per punt, making his performance second-best in the NCAA Division II rankings. He defied expectations with 39 punts inside the 20 and 30, going over 50 yards, and had an impressive record on extra points, with 43 out of 44 successful attempts.

Additionally, he was twice named national player of the week by D2Football.com and earned first-team titles across all-conference, all-region and even a D2CCA first-team All-American. His accomplishments were lauded by the Associated Press (AP), naming him first-team All-American, along with two other Wingate players.

Evans’s career at Wingate witnessed him appearing in 39 games and making 186 punts for 8,027 yards. Moreover, on kickoffs, he recorded an average of 62.1 with 213 kicks for 13,230 yards. He was invited to the Hula Bowl and was also one of the select few Division II players to be chosen for the East-West Shrine Bowl in 2023.

The 2023 NFL draft marked a significant milestone in Evans’s career, with the Los Angeles Rams selecting him in the seventh round, being the highest-selected Division II player and the second Wingate Bulldog to ever be drafted. Evans’s mettle didn’t just shine in the NFL; he was also chosen in the tenth round of the 2023 USFL draft by the Pittsburgh Maulers.

Eventually, in Week 11 of the 2023 season, Evans’s efforts bore fruit when he was named National Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, making him the first Ram to be awarded the Player of the Week recognition in the season. To round off his successful 2023 season, he had 63 punts for 3,101 yards for a commendable average of 49.22.

Thus, from a gifted high school student to a celebrated professional NFL punter, the evolution of Ethan Gray Evans has been an inspiring journey, a testament to his talent and praises in his football legacy. His talent continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of American football.