A native of Auburn, Alabama, Evans attended Auburn High School, where he was teammates with Reuben Foster. He finished with 77 tackles and 17.5 sacks as a senior in high school, while adding five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery. He was recognized as first team ASWA 6A All-State selection as a junior in 2012 and also played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Evans was a five-star outside linebacker according to 247Sports, rated the eleventh best player in the country; the number one outside linebacker in the country; and the second highest recruit from the state of Alabama behind fellow Alabama commit Marlon Humphrey. He was recognized as an Under Armour All-American in 2014.
College career
As a true freshman, Evans played on special teams in 13 games with 15 tackles and one sack. As a sophomore, Evans again mostly played as a special teamer and reserve outside linebacker in 2015, though his two sacks against Clemson in the national championship victory that season put him on many scouts' radars. Evans was a second-team All-SEC pick in 2017, starting 12 games, tying for the team lead with 74 tackles, leading the team with 13 tackles for loss, making six sacks, and breaking up three passes. In the team's two playoff games in 2016, Evans made 18 tackles from an inside linebacker position. He had 53 total for the year, including four sacks, six quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble in 14 games. He started 14 games over his final two seasons and appeared in three CFP National Championship contests with two victories. Evans graduated from Alabama in December 2017 with a degree in psychology.
Professional career
Evans was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
2018 season: Rookie year
On May 15, 2018, Evans signed a four-year deal worth $11.7 million with a $6.59 million signing bonus. On September 23, 2018, Evans made his first career start, as well as his first career tackle, against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 9-6 Week 3 victory. Evans finished his rookie year with 63 tackles, six quarterback pressures, two tackles for loss, and three passes defensed.
2019 season
In Week 4, Evans made 10 combined tackles and made his first NFL sack during a 24-10 road win at the Atlanta Falcons. Evans was credited with half a sack after he sacked Matt Ryan with teammate Isaiah Mack. During Week 10 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Evans recovered a fumble forced by teammate David Long Jr. on running backDamien Williams and returned it for a 53 yard touchdown in the 35–32 victory.
NFL statistics
Regular season
Postseason
Personal life
Evans is the second oldest of five children. He has one younger brother and three sisters. His father, Alan, was a running back at Auburn, and his mother, Chenavis, received four degrees from Auburn, including her doctorate. Evans' older sister was a cheerleader at Auburn, and, despite the family ties including his cousins attending Auburn, Evans chose to attend Alabama. Growing up in rural Alabama, Evans would chase wild horses to work on improving his speed and athleticism.
