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Tennessee football: JuCo RB Tiyon Evans commits to Vols for 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) /
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Amidst a huge recruiting week, Tennessee football scored a junior college pickup on Thursday. Running back Tiyon Evans committed to the Volunteers.

The commitments just keep coming. On Sunday, Tennessee football picked up an elite prospect from Alabama in Dylan Brooks. They picked up one from Florida on Monday in Kamar Wilcoxson, and they then picked up one from Georgia on Tuesday in  Julian Nixon.

After no pickups on Wednesday, Jeremy Pruitt further expanded the Vols footprint in SEC states on Thursday by picking up a commitment from South Carolina, this time a junior college pickup. Running back Tiyon Evans of Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kan. shocked the world by picking the Vols over the Gamecocks.

Evans is not yet rated on Rivals or 247Sports Composite, but he’s the No. 3 national junior college prospect and No. 1 ranked junior college running back on 247Sports overall. He announced his commitment to Tennessee football on Twitter.

Originally from Hartville, S.C., the 5’9″ 225-pound power back is entering his second year with Hutchinson. Last year, he averaged nearly nine yards a carry with 61 carries for 538 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had a receiving touchdown.

Related Story. Top 15 2021 prospects for Vols to pursue. light

Quarterback Mark Wright was the leading rusher, but he just complete his second year, so this year should be Evans’ time to shine. As a result, he could dramatically boost his profile before National Signing Day next February.

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With Tim Jordan, Ty Chandler and Carlin Fils-Aime all set to be seniors this year, Tennessee football clearly needs a few more running backs. They obviously have Eric Gray. But after that, they have lots of three-star pickups, including incoming freshmen Tee Hodge and Jabari Small and 2021 commit Jaylen Wright.

Of those players, only Hodge, at 6’2″ 230 pounds, is a power back. As a result, Evans gives Pruitt another option at that position, and since he’s not as tall as Hodge, he also may provide a change of pace. Here is a look at his highlight reel from high school.

As you can see, Evans was a versatile athlete in high school since he played quarterback. As a runner, he showed great vision, and tacklers just bounced off of him. There was also some surprising breakaway speed for his size, although that could be relative to his competition. Still, he’s clearly got some talent.

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With his addition, Tennessee football now has 14 commitments for 2021. Evans is their first junior college pickup, and the Vols continue to have a top 10 class that is flirting with the top five. Simply put, he’s a huge pickup, and if he can raise his profile, UT’s class can even look more impressive.

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