MSU visit makes Evans decision difficult
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Four-star defensive tackle Craig Evans made a mid-week official visit to Michigan State last week. A Wisconsin commit, Evans now has a choice to make after seeing what the Spartans have to offer.
"Michigan State is a school I can see myself being successful," Evans said. "I see myself fitting in as a Spartan Dawg very well with my style of play and what I am capable of doing. I would be a great fit for there and what they are trying to get accomplished these next couple of years."
Evans arrived in East Lansing on Wednesday and departed Friday. During his stay he was able to take in the Spartan's bowl practices as well as the basketball team's home game against North Carolina.
"I really enjoyed being able to just sit down and see how certain coaches prepare for big moments like that," Evans said. "Being able to sit with the defensive line coach and defensive coordinator and how intense it was for them to break down everything, I felt that was my highlight.
"I also had a great time with Coach (Mark) Dantonio and he showed me how much he cared and how much he wanted me to be there. He took time to give me tours and take me to places he doesn't normally take guys. I felt that was real special of him to do."
Linebacker Lawrence Thomas was Evans' player-host during his official visit, but he also spent time with defensive starters Darqueze Dennard, Shilique Calhoun and Trae Waynes during his stay in East Lansing.
"On my visit, the guys were all down-to-earth guys," Evans said. "They have a goal of the same thing, and it was a great visit."
Evans has been committed to Wisconsin since March. Before last week's Michigan State trip he had made an official visit to Arkansas in September and has narrowed his focus to those three schools.
"Those are the three schools that have been with me for awhile," Evans said. "Those coaching staffs believed in me and always wanted me. That's all I really wanted to get done, and I'll go from there."
A final decision is planned for Jan. 4, when Evans will partake in the Offense-Defense Bowl in Orlando, Fla. The next four weeks are expected to bring difficult deliberations following last week's trip to Michigan State.
"It definitely made it much tougher because I could see myself going to any of these schools right now and being successful," Evans said. "At the end of the day I do have schools I feel have an upper hand on certain schools, so it is going to be a lot of sitting down and leveling everything out."
Wisconsin is making sure they are not losing any ground with their committed defensive tackle, visiting the four-star at his Sun Prairie, Wisc., home on Sunday.
"I just let Coach (Ben) Strickland out the door," Evans said. "Me and him sat down, munched on some sandwiches, sat back and watched some football, talked about life and talked about things outside of football. We're building that chemistry, building that relationship and strengthening it.
"Coach Strickland is a great guy and me and him have that relationship. He probably has the upper hand for relationships as far as recruiters. Him coming today meant a lot to me and means a lot for my decision."
Evans is also expecting Michigan State assistant coaches Brad Salem and Ron Burton as well as Wisconsin defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a to be in-school this week for visits.
Josh Helmholdt is the Midwest Region football recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.
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