Virginia Tech junior running back Darren Evans announced Thursday he will enter the 2011 NFL Draft. The announcement comes on the heels of a report by Josh Parcell of ACC Mania that Ryan Williams has also decided to turn pro.
Evans returned to the Hokies in 2010 after missing all of the 2009 season with a torn ACL. Despite splitting carries with Williams and David Wilson, he managed to equal the 11 touchdowns he had in his freshman campaign. He also averaged 5.7 yards per carry, more than a yard better than his 2009 average.
Evans said after the Orange Bowl he had been told by the NFL Draft advisory committee he would probably be selected around the fourth round of this year's draft. However, family concerns may have factored into his decision. He has a wife and young child and his mother is in bad health.
According to Darryl Slater, Evans said during today's announcement he had been leaning toward leaving college, but wanted to make sure he wouldn't go undrafted first.
With Evans heading for the NFL and Williams likely following suit, it means David Wilson will likely be Virginia Tech's featured tailback next year. It will be important for the Hokies to find someone for him to split carries with, possibly Josh Oglesby or Tony Gregory.
Good luck to Evans, who gave us two years of hard-nosed running and two conference titles.