TCU football standout Zach Evans likely won’t start opener after breaking team policy
TCU running back Zach Evans will likely be on the bench when the offense takes the field to start the 2021 season against Duquesne on Saturday night.
Coach Gary Patterson said Evans is not expected to play the first two offensive series of the game after violating team policy. Patterson did not expand on what rule(s) Evans broke.
Patterson said Evans has handled himself well since arriving on campus last year as the program’s highest-rated recruit, earning a 3.75 GPA his first year and being named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team. But rules are rules.
“He’s been great. He had a 3.75. He was mad because he didn’t get a 4.0,” Patterson said. “But he probably won’t play the first two series in this game because of team policy.”
TCU is expected to handle the matter internally.
Evans joined TCU after an interesting recruiting process. He was once the highest-rated prospect in the 2020 class by 247Sports. The five-star running back out of Galena Park North Shore originally signed with Georgia during the early signing period in December 2019. Georgia released Evans from his national letter of intent a few weeks later and he eventually ended up at TCU.
Evans had a successful freshman season with the Frogs, finishing with 415 yards rushing on 54 carries with four touchdowns. He also had 76 yards receiving on eight catches. TCU led the Big 12 in rushing last year with 214.7 yards per game.
Evans is expected to have a breakout sophomore season after putting together a solid fall camp. TCU has depth at the running back position behind Evans with fellow sophomores Kendre Miller and Daimarqua Foster as well as senior Emari Demercado.
“The other guys are very well qualified to do what they need to do,” Patterson said.
In other news, Patterson said cornerback Noah Daniels would not play in the opener. Daniels, who is arguably the team’s best NFL prospect, has yet to return to practice after a season-ending injury in 2020. Fellow cornerback Tony Wallace and defensive tackle Terrell Cooper also may not be ready to play, Patterson said.
TCU and Duquesne are set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
This story was originally published August 31, 2021 at 12:45 PM.
