Dealing with injuries is a part of the game of football. All players understand that going into the game, probably right around their late high school years, especially ones that are destined to be playing in big time Division I schools.
But, that doesn’t mean they still can’t be devastating, frustrating, and derailing in terms of production and a potential future of playing the game they love professionally.
That was nearly the case for DeQuin Evans, who after transfering from junior college lit up the SEC in his first season with 12.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. Looking to build on that, Evans hoped to develop into a top NFL draft prospect in his senior campaign.
He spoke on his coaching staff and their recent success in building defensive line talent. “Coach Pitre (now at Miami (FL)) was a great coach, and should have success at Miami.” Former Kentucky defensive lineman in the pros are guys like Myron Pryor, a solid rotational guy in the NFL, Jeremy Jarmon, fringe starter much of the year at defensive end, and Corey Peters, starting nose tackle for the Atlanta Falcons have spoken with Evans, and it’s clear to see that he showed the ability to have the potential to replicate their success in the NFL.
But, Evans talked about how he “tore the shoulder during camp, and didn’t get an MRI until after the season.” The torn shoulder was a torn labrum and just got the surgery a little over a week ago.
Despite having a sharp drop off in production this year, he still talked about how proud he was that he “earned the captain spot” and felt like a “totally different player this season” in terms of his off the field role and overall development of his game despite being “very frustrated” with his injury most of the year.
As for his workout schedule, he said that he’ll be focused on the 40 yard dash, the “L” cone drill, and the short and long shuttles, but said he “will have to lay off the bench press” come workouts because his labrum won’t be fully healed.
Outside of his injury, he talked about how he needs to become not only a good pass rusher but needs to be a “great pass rusher”. He also talked about how he “needs to learn to play the run better”. But, he made a good point in something that he learned on his own as well as many other SEC and Kentucky alums that “If you can play well in the SEC, you can play in the NFL.”
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