Ole Miss RB Zach Evans Signs Rookie Contract with Los Angeles Rams

Former Ole Miss Rebels running back Zach Evans will compete with Los Angeles Rams tailback Cam Akers for carries this fall.

OXFORD, Miss. -- Former Ole Miss Rebels running back Zach Evans signed his NFL rookie contract with the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, according to Ram Digest with FanNation. 

Evans was selected with the 215th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Rams after spending one year at Ole Miss where he split backfield carries with the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year, Quinshon Judkins. The former Rebel is set to earn $3.9 million with a $133,332 signing bonus.

Although he dealt with a nagging knee injury in 2022, Evans still managed to rush for 936 yards and nine touchdowns on 144 attempts - all career highs - averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Evans also showed a knack for catching the ball out of the backfield, recording 12 receptions for 119 receiving yards and one touchdown. 

Prior to the 2022 season, the Houston, Texas, native played for the TCU Horned Frogs from 2020-21 where he totaled 146 carries, 1,063 rushing yards, and nine touchdowns. Evans was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and rated as the No. 2 running back in the 2020 cycle, behind only former Texas Longhorns tailback Bijan Robinson.

After a short but successful career at Ole Miss, Evans now prepares for his first NFL training camp where he will seek to prove why the Rams traded up for him at the end of this year's draft. Evans will compete for snaps in Los Angeles' backfield with tailbacks Cam Akers, Sony Michel, Kyren Williams, and Ronnie Rivers.

It will be a battle for Evans to get playing time, but Rams coach Sean McVay mentioned in May that he is excited about his skill set.

"I think he has a nice skillset that compliments Cam (Akers), compliments Kyren Williams, Ronnie Rivers," McVay said. "And so, I think you're always still looking at complimentary skillsets, whether that's in a receiver, tight end, running back room. And that was kind of the appealing thing about Zach."

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You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.

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