Bret Bielema announced on Thursday that junior RB Denzell Evans will get his degree and then transfer from Arkansas this summer. His departure comes at a time when Arkansas’ running backs are essentially running on fumes.
We lost Alex Collins. We lost Jonathan Williams.
Rawleigh Williams had neck surgery.
Kody Walker broke his foot for the billionth time.
Now, most recently, junior running back Denzell Evans will be transferring from Arkansas. Yay us?
On Thursday, Bret Bielema gave updates to the media on topics such as the rotations happening on the offensive line, the situation involving WR Keon Hatcher‘s injury, and, most notably, the departure of Denzell Evans.
Evans hasn’t been a big contributor since his arrival at Arkansas. A three-star recruit out of Houston, Denzell couldn’t break through the depth chart during his freshman and sophomore seasons. He was put on special teams and only came on the field as a running back in a select few games. His most memorable appearance came in 2015 vs. UT Martin, where he recorded six carries for 48 yards, including a career high 31 yard run. This was the last regular season game Evans took a carry.
But just last month he (along with Clint Stoerner) was a key player in the spring game. With Rawleigh Williams not getting any contact and Kody Walker’s injury, Evans and Damon “Duwop” Mitchell were the featured backs. The Houston native got off to a great start, even being the first Razorback of the game to enter the endzone.
By the end of the Red/White matchup, Denzell Evans was the leading rusher for the day.
Denzell Evans finished with 46 yards and 2 TDs on 15 carries. He was the leading rusher.
— Andrew Hutchinson (@NWAHutch) April 23, 2016
I can’t blame Evans for wanting to hitch a ride out. Once Rawleigh, Walker and Whaley get going this fall, Evans would have dropped to either the No. 4 or 5 slot. Not climbing up the ladder in the three years he’s been a Razorback meant a change was needed. If things go right this season, Evans transferring will have been a good choice. You need to go wherever you can succeed, and I didn’t see Denzell Evans succeeding in Fayetteville. Neither did he.
As a Hog fan, I respect his decision and wish him the best.
After his transfer, Evans will still have two years of eligibility with the team he lands on.
More razorbacks: Injury Update: Keon Hatcher Has Surgery
Do you think Evans should have transferred? Because I see a valid argument as to why he should have stayed. With injuries running rampant, people might want as many bodies as we can get. As of right now the Hogs are dealing with two unhealthy running backs. From the heart-wrenching experiences we call Arkansas football games, we know that two could quickly become four, which could become eight, which could become 10,000. Next thing we know, the whole university has a broken foot and we’re left watching QVC on a Saturday night wondering what the hell happened.
But don’t worry Razorback fans, we will be alright. The odds of my last paragraph happening are astronomical. Like a “heaving a ball thirty yards backwards and somehow getting a first down” type of astronomical.
Oh wait…