BREAKING: Heels Secure Five-Star Commitment From Desmond Evans

By DON CALLAHAN 3 hours ago

SANFORD, N.C. — Five-star defensive end Desmond Evans announced his verbal commitment to North Carolina during the homecoming pep rally at Lee County High on Friday afternoon.

Evans, a 6-foot-6, 240-pounder, becomes the highest-ranked commitment UNC has received in 13 years (Marvin Austin, 2007 class). The commitment moves UNC up a rung to No. 18 in the 247Sports National Team Rankings, passing South Carolina, and further solidifies UNC’s spot at No. 4 in the ACC.

Evans joins a commitment list that already included five other D-linemen: A.J. Beatty, four-stars Kedrick Bingley-Jones and Myles Murphy, Clyde Pinder, and Kaimon Rucker. UNC’s class overall now stands at 23 members.

Also a member of UNC’s commitment list is cornerback Jayden Chalmers, Evans’s cousin, teammate, and close friend.

Unsurprisingly, Evans received scholarship offers from FBS programs nationwide. He winnowed his options to 10 schools in May: Alabama, Clemson, Duke, Florida, UNC, NC State, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech. In late August, that list was cut in half to the Gators, Heels, Gamecocks, Volunteers, and Hokies.

In hindsight, though, Evans’s actions since the end of May make his selection of the Heels expected. He visited Chapel Hill four times in June, while not visiting anywhere else. He then attended three UNC games this fall (the opener in Charlotte, plus home games against Appalachian State and Clemson) and just visited Florida (vs. Auburn) otherwise.

In addition to his five-star rating, the 247Sports Composite ranks Evans the top prospect in North Carolina, the No. 2 weakside defensive end in the nation, and the nation’s No. 22 overall recruit.

“He’s a high-motor player,” former Lee County assistant coach Foster Cates said. “He plays with a lot of energy. He’s long, he can run, he has great change-of-direction, he’s athletic — he’s a difference-maker.”123COMMENTS

For undefeated Lee County High this season, Evans has made 27 tackles, 10 TFLs, four sacks, six QB hurries, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He concluded his junior campaign with 69 tackles, 25 TFLs, 12 sacks, 16 QB hurries, a forced fumble, and a punt block. He also had 14 sacks as a sophomore and 10.5 as a freshman.

Charles Power, a 247Sports National Analyst, authored the following evaluation of Evans: “Has a tall, angular build. Has added some bulk in recent years, but still has considerable room for growth. Long-limbed and built like a basketball power forward. Owns a high-level first step and initial quickness off the ball. Is often in the backfield a split-second after the snap. Dominates the competition with his physical tools. Highly productive with 25 tackles for loss and 12 sacks as a high school junior. Is at his best when shooting gaps and using his length and range to make plays in pursuit. Shows desirable effort and physicality in finishing plays. Still developing as a pass rusher from a technical standpoint. Will also need to improve his strength at the point of attack. As one of the more talented edge players in the 2020 cycle, projects as a high level Power 5 player with the upside of developing into a first-round draft pick.”