Big 12 Offseason Tracker: 5-star RB Zach Evans enrolls at TCU

The Texas Longhorns aren’t the only Big 12 program making moves on the graduate transfer market and in the class of 2020, as the TCU Horned Frogs followed up the addition of Oklahoma Sooners graduate transfer Mark Jackson last week with an even bigger prize on Monday — the enrollment of Galena Park North Shore running back Zach Evans, according to Jeremy Clark of HornedFrogBlitz.com.

Considered the top player in Texas and the No. 2 running back nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Evans drew buzz as a potential generational talent until his recruitment took several late turns.

By that point, Evans had already eliminated Texas, which ended up signing Arizona product Bijan Robinson, who surpassed Evans late in the cycle to earn recognition as 2020’s top running back recruit.

The fall in the rankings happened after Evans was suspended for and sent home from the state title game against Duncanville due to a team rules violation.

Then, in the following days, Evans was set to announce his decision at the 2020 Under Armour All-American game before enrolling early at the school of his choice. Instead of announcing a commitment, however, Evans canceled those plans before the game and instead issued an apology.

“First and foremost, I just want to apologize to my college coaches, for everything they are hearing,” Evans said. “I am really a good kid. I came in and learned from some former professionals. I made some stupid decisions and I am ready to compete at the next level.”

Evans was apologizing for refusing to surrender his phone during bed check by his coaches on the night before the championship game, calling the decision “stupid” and “immature.”

As for that commitment, Evans had signed with Georgia in December, but was subsequently released from his National Letter of Intent before taking official visits to Ole Miss and Tennessee during January.

And then things went pretty silent for several months in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, all until Evans signed a financial aid agreement with the Horned Frogs on Sunday and then enrolled for an online class as TCU started its summer session on Monday.

The addition of Evans provides some much-needed star power to the running back room in Fort Worth — TCU lost both of its top running backs from last season and didn’t sign a clear impact player at the position in 2020. Not only that, but the Horned Frogs also lack proven talent since the only running back on the roster with more than 100 career rushing yards only had 18 carries last season.

So it’s unquestionable that the opportunity will be there for Evans at TCU in 2020. As long as he can take care of his business off the field and in the (virtual, for now) classroom.

If that happens, TCU and Texas can settle the Robinson-Evans debate on the field.