The Tennessee Titans drafted running back Darrynton Evans in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft to be a complement and backup to star rusher Derrick Henry — and so far the No. 1 back likes what he sees from the potential No. 2 back.
According to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online, Henry called Evans “talented” and “smart” and noted how much he pays attention to detail during meetings.
“He’s talented,” Henry said of Evans. “He’s smart. He’s very attentive to detail when he’s in meetings and carrying it over to walkthroughs and things like that. Each and every day he wants to grow as a player. I’m here to help him and excited for those opportunities.”
Henry isn’t the only big-named player to heap praise on Evans. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who spent time working out with the rookie this offseason, also had great things to say about him, per Wyatt.
“Just a talented guy,” Tannehill said of Evans. “He’s very explosive, very fast. Catching the football, really natural. When you see a running back catch the ball naturally, whether they’re coming out of the backfield or split out wide, it definitely adds another element to the offense and can give defenses a hard time. Really excited about having Darrynton with us.”
After cutting Dion Lewis earlier this offseason, Evans is in line to take over those snaps, but the Titans will be hoping he can contribute even more than Lewis, whose role diminished significantly in his last season in Nashville.
Evans will not only look to spell Henry on the ground and help lessen what was a league-leading workload of 303 rushing attempts last season, but he could also make an impact in the passing game, an area Titans backs struggled with overall in 2019.
If Evans can prove he’s worthy of playing time immediately, he stands to be a perfect change-of-pace back to Henry with his explosive 4.41 40-yard dash speed.
On top of his duties as a running back, Evans might also factor into the return game, where he was an electric player during his days at Appalachian State, averaging an impressive 25.7 yards per return.
[lawrence-related id=41986,41960,41939]
[vertical-gallery id=41967]