JC defensive tackle Craig Evans eyes Arkansas again

Craig Evans

— Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema is getting a second chance to land one of the nation’s best defensive tackles.

Former Wisconsin prep star and Michigan State player Craig Evans (6-4, 307) – now at Arizona Western College with Razorback tight end pledge Jeremy Patton (6-6, 248) – says he will be taking an official visit to Arkansas in October.

Evans (6-2, 307), a December graduate who would have two years left to play, committed to Bielema when he was at Wisconsin, but then flipped to Michigan State when the coach left for Arkansas.

“I am planning on making an official visit to Arkansas for either the Alabama or Ole Miss games,” said Evans, who already made an official visit to Arkansas back in 2014. “I have always had a great relationship with Coach B and his staff and I am very interested in getting down there.”

Evans had 21 tackles, 3.5 for lost yardage and a sack, while playing in all 14 games for Michigan State as a redshirt freshman in 2015. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman squad.

He acknowledges that he left Michigan State after failing a drug test that would have left him suspended for six games.

“I’m just putting that all behind me and I came to Arizona Western because of the talent and great coaching they have here,” Evans said. “I have matured and everything is going great here.”

Evans has been solid this season for Arizona Western, currently 4-0 and ranked No. 1 nationally in NJCAA heading into Friday’s game against Air Force Prep in Colorado Springs, Colo.

He has 20 tackles, with 4.5 tackles for lost yardage with one sack and one interception this season for an Arkansas Western defense that leads the junior college ranks in points allowed (5.5) and is second in yards allowed (141.3).

“We have had a good year so far and it is because we are putting in the hard work and working hard for all we have gotten so far,” Evans said. “We have a lot of talent and the coaches have put us in position to be very successful.”

Evans said that Arkansas, Oregon State, USC, Arizona and Colorado are the teams he is considering.

“Arkansas is the only official visit that I have set up to this point,” Evans said.

Patton, who chose Arkansas over Alabama, Arizona State, Louisville, Nebraska, Florida, Utah and others, has two catches for 30 yard.

He had 17 catches for 316 yards and two touchdowns last season and that earned him 32 offers during the off-season

“He’s just a baller,” Evans said. “I have been really impressed with not only how he catches the ball, but also what a great blocker and how he likes to mix it up.”

Evans was ranked the 16th-best defensive tackle in the country and a four-star prospect with 71 tackles, 15 tackles for lost yardage and six sacks his senior season for Sun Prairie High School.

“I feel like my strengths are that I have great technique and strength and an ability to beat my man and make plays,” Evans said. “I got better while I was at Michigan State, got a lot of great coaching and so I will come in as an experienced player who has competed on an elite level.”