Ole Miss RB Zach Evans to Declare For 2023 NFL Draft

The Rebels will lose one of their top offensive playmakers to the 2023 NFL Draft in Zach Evans.

Matt Galatzan | Dec 30, 2022

The Ole Miss Rebels have lost a handful of key players over the last few days.

But the latest one might sting the most.

Per a report from ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Ole Miss star runningback Zach Evans is set to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Evans was the second half of arguably the best running-back tandem in the country alongside freshman phenom Quinshon Judkins, and despite missing time due to injury, finished the regular season with career-highs in carries (136), rushing yards (899), and rushing touchdowns (eight).

Fortunately for Ole Miss, Judkins helped Evans shoulder the load and then some, and was named the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year after leading the conference in multiple rushing categories.

Evans mentioned the massive steps Judkins has taken in just one season.

"I watched [Judkins] go from a boy to a man," Evans said. "Him coming in and being able to handle the adversity thrown his way and being the lead back some games when I wasn't playing. It's pretty impressive and amazing."

Evans will now enter an extremely deep runningback draft pool that will include Doak Walker Award winner Bijan Robinson of the Texas Longhorns, Alabama's Jahmir Gibbs, Michigan's Blake Corum, Auburn's Tank Bigsby, Texas A&M's Devon Achane, and more.

You can follow Matt Galatzan on Twitter @MattGalatzan

Hey Rebel Fans! Want to see the Ole Miss in action? Get your Ole Miss game tickets from SI Tickets here!

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Rebels? Click Here.

Follow The Grove Report On Facebook and Twitter.

Want even more Ole Miss Rebels News? Check out the SI.com team page here

Published Dec 30, 2022

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of TheGroveReport.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels.