Evans commits to Utah State, where he feels at home

Centennial senior quarterback Jamaal Evans has been traveling to Logan, Utah long before he started playing football. His father, Leon, routinely took high school teams he’s coached to Utah State’s football camp. Naturally, the younger Evans tagged along until he was in high school, and could participate.

From water and towel boy, to camp volunteer, to football player.

Now, the 6-foot-3-inc, 215-pound dual threat is a Utah State-football commit.

A little more than one month after decommitting from UNR, Evans confirmed Saturday via phone conversation he was committing to play football for Utah State. A two-star recruit according to Scout.com, Evans first announced his commitment on Twitter, proclaiming: “Excited to say I’m committed to Utah State University #Aggies.”

“I’ve developed relationships with the coaches and personnel at Utah State, since I was about 8 years old - I feel like I’m at home up there,” said Evans, who committed to UNR on May 13, then de-committed on June 26.

Evans, who had additional scholarship offers from Adams State (Colorado), Idaho, Northern Arizona, UNLV and Weber State, said he was recruited as an athlete and is being looked at as either a safety or wide receiver. He admitted, however, he wouldn’t mind getting a shot at playing the position he became awfully dangerous at last season.

Evans, who helped lead the Bulldogs to the Division I Sunset Region semifinals, threw for 1,807 yards and 20 touchdowns his junior season, while rushing for 565 yards and 16 TDs.

Evans, an all-state honorable mention selection as a junior, was recently listed as Nevada Prep’s No. 4 quarterback for Southern Nevada, based on conversations with coaches from the Sunrise and Sunset Regions in both 4A and 3A.

“I really just can’t wait to get up there and see where I best fit to make the team,” he said. “I’m excited about my decision, and feel much better about it now, than I did with my first commitment, which I just feel I rushed into.”

First things first though, he said, as he’s concentrating on lofty goals for the upcoming campaign.

“Now with all of this stuff out of the way, I feel I won’t have any stress,” Evans said. “I have my scholarship and can enjoy my senior season. I just want to win as much as I can and hit certain goals for my team.”

Evans said atop the list of goals are beating rival Arbor View (the teams meet at Centennial on Oct. 7), winning the Northwest League and leading the Bulldogs to state.

Centennial opens its season on Aug. 26 at Desert Pines.