By Steve Carpenter
Hutchinson CC Sports Information Director

Obviously, the Coronavirus pandemic has been one gigantic, colossal pain for our world since it began a couple of years ago.

Through it all the negatives that Covid-19 produced, every once-in-a-while, a positive has come out this dark period of history.

Hutchinson Community College super-sophomore linebacker R.J. Evans is one of those positives.

The Hanceville, Alabama, product came to Hutchinson in the fall of 2019 as a fullback/tight end. Just as Covid-19 started in March of 2020, Blue Dragon head coach Drew Dallas noticed some things about Evans and decided to move him over to the defensive side of the ball as a linebacker.

With two seasons of eligibility that didn't count toward participating players, Evans has taken that extra time to hone his skills as a linebacker.

Now in his fourth season at Hutchinson, Evans has become one of the top linebackers in the Jayhawk Conference and is a true Blue Dragon team leader on and off the field.

Hutchinson has the first of its two bye weeks this week and currently is 3-0 overall and ranked No. 2 in the nation. The Blue Dragons open Jayhawk Conference play next Saturday at Coffeyville.

"My time here has been a lesson," Evans said. "I have learned and grown during this time so much. I'm so glad Coach Dallas moved me to linebacker. I just wanted to get better every day and put in the time. Now it's starting to pay off. I love the grind and I love the process.

"It was God's plan and I'm just following the journey."

"It was a bit of a gamble, but for him with the timing of the position change, R.J. has done the things he's needed to do to put himself in position and capitalize on the extra time he's had here," Dallas added.

During a tight end drill in 2019, that was the first time Dallas noticed that Evans might make a top-notch linebacker. Dallas, who was former head coach Rion Rhoades' offensive coordinator in that season, liked the way Evans attacked the ball and thought that he could transition over to defense.

Evans said he went to Rhoades about the change and originally was moved to defensive end. After Dallas took over as the Blue Dragon head coach, Evans was eventually moved to linebacker.

"It was a transition when you go from fullback/tight end to linebacker," Dallas said. "He's pretty natural at it, but the more reps you go and he's really benefitted from that that extra time, not only physically, but more so mentally.

"He's really taken a leadership role. He's done things the right way since he's been here."

Evans did not play in the 2019 season. Then the decision was made to move to linebacker. Unfortunately, that process was halted when the 2020 spring season was canceled as the pandemic began.

During the Blue Dragons' 2020-21 national championship season, played in the spring of 2021, Evans had seven tackles and a forced fumble.

Evans then stepped in full time as a linebacker last season and earned honorable mention all-Jayhawk Conference honors. He had 54 total tackles in 11 games with three quarterback sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Evans also had an interception, fumble recovery, forced fumble and a blocked kick.

Evans had a single-game high of nine tackles against Highland in 2021, and was one of Hutchinson's top defensive players during the Dragons' season-ending six-game winning streak that ended with a Jayhawk Conference playoff championship and a Salt City Bowl victory.

Asked to critique his 2021 season, Evans wasn't totally satisfied with his play.

"Last year was my first year of playing collegiate linebacker and I missed a lot of plays and missed a bunch of tackles," Evans said. "I hold myself to a higher standard and I feel like I have to make a bunch more plays and be a great leader (this season). I have to play for four quarters. Last year I was missing assignments and gaps. I have to be way better this year."

So far through three games in 2022, Evans has 17 total tackles, including six solo stops. He has 1.5 quarterback sacks and five tackles for loss.

Last week against No. 7 Iowa Central – a 31-28 overtime win over the Tritons – Evans had a career-high nine tackles with 1.5 quarterback sacks. Evans was named the Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

Dallas said that before the season, Evans was getting looks from several FCS programs and a handful of Group of 5 schools. Now the Blue Dragon head coach wants to see Evans improve on the little things it takes to be a collegiate linebacker. This fourth season at Hutchinson is allowing Evans to do just that.

"He flies around. He runs well," Dallas said. "He just now learning the intricacies to the position to make him the best player he can be."

Evans has made the most of his time at Hutchinson, and he's also given back to the community. Earlier this summer, Evans bought groceries for a homeless family in the Hutchinson area because "it was the right thing to do."