HOG FUTURES

UA’s other 1st-year RB talented, too

Arkansas running back Denzell Evans runs drills before Saturday afternoon's scrimmage at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE - Alex Collins has received a lot of attention in fall camp, but he’s not Arkansas’ only freshman tailback.

Don’t forget about Denzell Evans. He might redshirt this season while Collins plays, but Evans was heavily recruited, too.

Evans, who rushed for 1,147 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior at Houston Bellaire High School, said he turned down scholarship offers from Texas A&M, TCU, Michigan State, Arizona State, Kansas State and Houston to sign with Arkansas. He said it was especially difficult turning down the Texas schools.

Evans At a Glance

CLASS Freshman

HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-0, 215 pounds

POSITION Tailback

HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL Houston Bellaire

NOTEWORTHY Rushed for 2,855 yards and 35 touchdowns as a three-year starter at Bellaire, including 1,147 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior. … Also had scholarship offers from Texas A&M, TCU, Michigan State, Kansas State, Arizona State and Houston. … Has gained 10 pounds since last season.

“I had a lot of family that wanted me to stay home,” Evans said. “In the end, I had to make the best move for me, and I know that was coming up here.”

Evans said he wasn’t being recruited by Arkansas until Coach Bret Bielema - hired from Wisconsin in early December - added Joel Thomas as running backs coach from Washington. Thomas had been recruiting Evans for the Huskies.

“I’d been talking to Coach Thomas for so long that once he came to Arkansas and they offered me, I was ready to be here,” Evans said. “Before that, I couldn’t have imagined being at Arkansas, but I’m definitely glad I’m here now.

“B eing uncommon is something Coach B always talks about. I could have gone to A&M or a lot of other places, but I wanted to be part of what Coach B and is building here.”

Evans, 6-0, 215 pounds, was a three-year starter at Bellaire and Thomas, in Seattle, took note. Then Thomas got a job at an SEC school closer to Houston.

“It helped that I had a personal relationship with Denzell going back a full year, but I think more than anything, he saw an opportunity here,” Thomas said. “Kids want to go somewhere they believe they have a chance to make a difference.”

Thomas said he’s impressed by Evans’ combination of speed and power.

“I think he has a quick initial burst and nice feet in the hole,” Thomas said. “He’s a solid, bigger-boned kid. With Coach B’s offense and the way we want our backs to be, we thought Denzell would be a good fit.”

The depth chart for the Aug. 31 opener against Louisiana-Lafayette hasn’t been announced, but Evans appears headed for a redshirt season.

“I just come out every day and give it my best, and Iknow Coach B will make the right move for us as a team to get better,” Evans said. “I’m perfectly fine with a redshirt. That will give me time to practice and build my body up.”

Senior fullback Kiero Small said he has been impressed by Evans’ work ethic in camp.

“Denzell is a strong kid, and he learns pretty quick,” Small said. “He understands the scheme, puts his head down and just gets to work.”

Evans said the first week of camp was an eye-opening experience.

“I knew it would be different, but I don’t think I really knew what I was getting myself into,” he said with a laugh. “It’s just something every freshman has to experience.The speed of the game is most definitely faster, and everyone is stronger.”

Thomas said Evans has done a good job of responding to “stress situations” coaches want the freshman to experience in practice.

“He does what we ask him to do, and tries to do it as well as he can,” Thomas said. “He may not be right all the time,but he keeps on going forward.”

Evans said he’s gained 10 pounds since last season, and after working with strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert for a few weeks he’s eager to see how his body will be transformed in the next year.

“It was a big difference for me coming from high school, because I didn’t put a lot of effort into the weight room before I got here,” Evans said. “Coach Herb has really showed me what I’m capable of doing, and I know I’m just going to keep getting bigger, stronger and faster.”

Herbert was a defensive lineman at Wisconsin before joining the Badgers’ coaching staff, then followed Bielema to Arkansas.

“Coach Herb may look mean, but he’s a very nice guy,” Evans said. “He’s going to tell you what’s best for you, and you can always talk to him.

“He’s a very approachable guy and a great motivator. I’m all for whatever he wants me to do.”

Sports, Pages 17 on 08/20/2013