Joe Evans, Noah Shannon Run It Back

Veteran D-Linemen Put Off NFL Dream for One More Iowa Ride

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Noah Shannon and Joe Evans hopped on the team bus following December's Music City Bowl victory against Kentucky. Iowa's senior defensive linemen sat down next to each other. 

"He asked me what I was thinking," Shannon said. "I told him I was kind of in the middle, leaning towards coming back. I didn't know. He told me to let him know, we could make it a package deal, both of us back." 

Shannon and Evans decided being Hawkeyes for a sixth year would be the plan, putting their NFL dreams on hold. They utilized an extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to Covid, meaning 2023 will be Year 5 of them playing. 

Evans could not pass up the opportunity. 

"I thought there was still a lot for me to give for this program," he said. "Coming in here as a walk-on, the coaches gave me everything. I may as well put all my eggs in the basket for my last year." 

Injuries factored into their decisions. Evans wanted a full calendar year on the field after missing last spring following labrum surgery on both shoulders. Shannon hurt his shoulder in Week 2 of '22, played through the pain for the rest of the season and had a procedure on it Jan. 29, keeping him from going full-speed until July. 

"I'd like to be out there just to compete with the guys," Shannon said. "I'll be out there coaching. It is going to hurt me not to be out there because I've never had a surgery like this in my life. I'm gonna go into the spring attacking every day of my therapy." 

All-Big Ten honorable mention tackle Logan Lee joins Evans and Shannon in giving the Hawkeyes three-starters back on the D-Line. Key '22 reserves Deontae Craig, Ethan Hurkett, Yahya Black and Aaron Graves along with productive JUCO product Anterio Thompson (6-3, 290) make this a deep, talented group. 

Evans (6-2, 246) walked on from Ames High in '18, his Iowa-loving parents moving to the eastern part of the state. He moved from linebacker to edge during his first spring practice. He was awarded a scholarship '20. 

Big Ten media chose Evans as a second-team all-Big Ten selection in '22, while the coaches gave him honorable mention. He shared the team-lead in sacks (6.5/Craig & Lukas Van Ness). Evans and Van Ness had the most in '21 with 7.0 apiece. Evans added 10 QB hurries during the last two seasons. 

Shannon (6-0, 289) picked up all-Big Ten honorable mentioned from conference coaches and media in '22. He tied Evans for third on the Hawkeyes with 8.5 tackles for loss, adding 2.0 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. He's started 28 games during the last three seasons, understanding how to keep linebackers clean. 

Evans and Shannon believe returning to college will improve their chances at making the NFL. Evans shares a recent experience with new Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara as an illustration. 

They were in the film room together. Evans was criticizing his play while watching games from last season. McNarama looked up from doing his homework and asked why he was being so hard on himself. 

"I'm like 'You should see this rep, it looks terrible'. So pass-rush, and I could go on and on about things I need to improve on. It was a smart decision for me to come back and focus on those little things, and every single day just try to get better at those little things," Evans said. 

Shannon is working on the same main area of his game. 

"Increasing my pass-pressure production," he said. "The NFL is a very pass-oriented league NFL scouts want to see guys who can effectively rush the passer, not necessarily get sacks all of the time but just cause havoc in the backfield." 

Iowa is replacing four defensive players who are participating at this week's NFL Draft Combine in Jack Campbell, Kaevon Merriweather, Riley Moss and Lukas Van Ness. Despite the losses, a Hawkeye unit that ranked second nationally in scoring defense (13.3 PPG) brings back four student-athletes with all-Big ten recognition, including media first-teamer, cornerback Cooper DeJean.

Shannon and Evans provide important experience for a defensive front that will see new starters behind it at linebacker. Jack Campbell, Seth Benson and Jestin Jacobs are gone. 

While it wasn't they main reason for Shannon and Evans returning, some compensation from The Swarm NIL collective played a role. 

"I talked with (Swarm CEO) Brad (Heinrichs) a few days before the (bowl) game," Shannon said. "He mentioned to me all the different opportunities he was going to be setting up for this upcoming year. I didn't really think too much about the money because the real money was in the NFL, where my ultimate goal was." 

Evans and Shannon look forward to seeing Hawkeye fans for seven more home games at Kinnick Stadium. That opportunity and being around each other and their teammates played a big role in them running it back.

"We have such a great group of guys and having the opportunity to help those guys and help lead those guys was a big reason," Evan said.