Hawk-Item – – His 24 career QB sacks ties for sixth most in program history… former walk-on was put on scholarship in 2020… one of nine seniors named to the 2023 Player Council… one of 12 seniors named to 2022 Player Council… one of 10 juniors named to 2021 Player Council… moved from linebacker to defensive end during 2019 spring practice… earned Dean’s List recognition spring, 2020.
2023 Honors – – Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist… third team All-Big Ten by league media and honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches… preseason second-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports… preseason third-team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele… 2023 – – Has 41 tackles (23 solo, 18 assists) on the season, leading team with 10 QB pressures and 9.5 tackles for loss of 40 yards, and 5.5 QB sacks for 27 yards… also has four pass break-ups and one forced fumble on the season… the 9.5 tackles for loss rank ninth and his 5.5 QB sacks on the season rank 10th in the Big Ten… posted a career-high seven tackles (five solo, two assists) and one QB pressure in 31-0 loss at Penn State… matched a career-high seven tackles (four solo, three assists), including a career-high 4.5 tackles for 20 yards and 1.5 QB sacks for 12 yards, and one QB pressure in 20-14 win over Purdue… had six tackle (four solo, two assists), including one QB sack for five yards, and one QB pressure in 12-10 loss vs. Minnesota… recorded a five tackles (one solo, four assists), including one tackle for a loss of five yards, two QB pressures, and one pass break-up in 20-13 win at Iowa State… collected four solo tackles, including one QB sack, and one QB pressure in 10-7 win at Northwestern… recorded three tackles (one solo, two assists), including one QB sack for five yards that resulted in a safety, one forced fumble and a career-high two pass break-ups in 15-13 in over Illinois… had three tackles (two solo, one assist), including one QB sack for a loss of five yards, and one QB pressure in 41-10 win over Western Michigan… had three tackles (one solo, two assissts) and one QB pressure in 13-10 win at Nebraska… started at defensive end in all 12 games.
2022 Honors – – Brett Greenwood Award… second-team All-Big Ten by league media… honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches… preseason fourth-team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele… 2022 – – Listed as second team right defensive end following spring practice… started a defensive end in all 13 games, collecting 41 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss of 53 years and 6.5 QB sacks for 47 yards, four QB pressures, two forced fumbles and recovered one fumble… matched season-high with five tackles in 33-13 win over Northwestern, including three solo tackles and two assists, with one QB sack… two solo tackles and two assists in 7-3 opening win over South Dakota State, matching season-best with 2.5 tackles for loss vs. SDSU, and added two QB sacks… recorded first safety of career with a QB sack in the fourth quarter… had four tackles in 10-7 loss to Iowa State (one solo, three assists) to go with one QB pressure… collected four tackles in 27-0 win over Nevada (one solo, three assists) with a shared tackle for loss and one QB pressure… had four tackles in 27-10 win at Rutgers, including (one solo, three assists) with one tackle for loss… posted four tackles in 27-14 loss to #4 Michigan (one solo, three assists)… recorded four assisted tackles in 21-0 Music City Bowl win over Kentucky, including a shared tackle for loss and QB sack… recorded one solo tackle in 54-10 loss at #2 Ohio State, collecting a QB sack and forced fumble, while recovering the fumble and scoring first career touchdown on an 11-yard return… collected two tackles in 24-10 win over Wisconsin (one solo, one assist) with one tackle for loss… sack and forced fumble recovered by Iowa on Wisconsin’s final possession of the game, along with one QB pressure.
2021 Honors – – Coaches Appreciation Award, defense… 2021 – – Saw action in all 14 games, tallying 34 tackles (16 solo, 18 assists), including seven QB sacks for 47 yards, six QB hurries, 1 pass break-up, and one forced fumble… had season-high five tackles (three solo, two assists), two QB sacks and one QB pressure in 30-7 win over Kent State… tallied four tackles in 23-20 win over #4 Penn State and one QB pressure… had four tackles (two solo, two assists), one QB sack and two QB pressures in 17-12 win at Northwestern… collected four tackles (one solo, three assists), one QB sack and forced fumble on final play of the game in 27-22 win over Minnesota… had three tackles (two solo, one assist) in 27-7 loss at Wisconsin… recorded QB sack, one pass break-up that led to an interception and added one QB pressure in 27-17 win at #9 Iowa State.
2020 – – Saw action in all eight games, recording three solo tackles and four assists, with two tackles for loss of eight yards, one QB sack for three yards, four QB pressures and one pass break-up… recorded a season-high three tackles (one solo, two assists) in 35-21 win at Illinois… recorded his his first sack of the season in 21-20 loss to Northwestern… had two tackles (one solo, one assist), including a tackle for loss, and three QB pressures in 49-7 win over Michigan State.
2019 – – Saw action in eight games, recording five solo tackles and two assists, with four QB sacks… posted season-high three tackles (two solo, one assist), including 1.5 QB sacks, in 23-19 win over #7 Minnesota… had two tackles (one solo, one assist) in 20-0 win at Northwestern for first career statistics.
2018 – – Redshirted after joining the team as a walk-on.
High school honors – – Earned all-state honorable mention honors as a senior… first-team all-conference as a junior and senior… honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore… Career – – Three-year football letterman as linebacker and quarterback… three-year starter at quarterback… football team captain as a junior and senior, first time ever at Ames HS… holds school records for career touchdowns and all-purpose yards… rushed for 771 yards and 11 touchdowns, while passing for 2,438 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior… recorded 60 tackles and forced two fumbles… as a junior rushed for 614 yards and 10 touchdowns, while passing for 1,580 yards and 13 touchdowns… as a sophomore rushed for 439 yards and five touchdowns, to go with 1,276 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, while helping prep team reach state playoffs… also lettered in track and basketball.
Personal – – Born 6/29/99… enterprise leadership major… carried a 3.2 prep GPA… parents are Abby and Spence Evans… father Spence Evans also played football at Iowa… high school coach was Bruce Vertanen.