Former MGCCC star Evans picked 50th in NFL Draft
PERKINSTON — Justin Evans didn't have a single offer from a four-year school when he came down the road from Wiggins to go to school at Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Fast-forward four years to Friday night and he became the 50th player taken in the 2017 NFL Draft, the highest a Bulldog has ever been picked.
"I had a little draft party," Evans said. "It's was crazy when I got drafted. Everybody was happy for me. I'm excited, they're excited."
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected the safety out of Stone High with a second-round pick. Evans played at Perk in 2013 and 2014, earning first-team All-MACJC honors.
The clip of him popping eventual Heisman Trophy-winner Derrick Henry in the Aggies' game against Alabama in 2015 got a lot more views. He was voted A&M's co-MVP on defense this year, sharing the honor with overall No. 1 pick Myles Garrett.
In his two years at Gulf Coast, Evans had 86 tackles, six interceptions, 13 pass break-ups. He returned to picks for touchdowns. At A&M, he was one tackle short of 100 in two seasons, with 66 more assists, six tackles for loss and five interceptions.
That kind of production made him a Tampa Bay target.
"That was one of the teams that I kinda figured would pick me up," he said. "I know the coaches real well. I took a visit with them."
Evans was a heralded baseball prospect coming out of high school, but he didn't draw as much attention on the football field. He came to Gulf Coast with a plan.
"I went the JUCO route coming out of high school because I didn't have any offers," he said. "They believed in my and I believed in myself. I had faith in myself and faith in God.
"My plan was to go to JUCO and then an SEC school. I was blessed with the opportunity to do that. Once I got that, I got two years at Texas A&M, and now I'm blessed to go to the NFL. It was just step by step, trying to make my dreams come true."
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