Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
MAKING THE CASE: Should Evans be No. 1 in 2020?
MORE TAKE TWO: Will Matt Campbell build something special at Iowa State or bail?
THE STORYLINE
Comparing a high school football player to one of the game’s all-time greats might be unfair, but 2020 five-star Zachary Evans is so special it warrants the question whether he’s the best running back in the state of Texas since Adrian Peterson.
It is pretty impressive company for the Houston (Texas) North Shore standout who was arguably the best running back regardless of class at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas this summer although 2019 five-star Trey Sanders had a valid argument as well.
The five-star running backs from Texas is a strong list, but maybe not as loaded as some would expect. Since the Rivals.com era started in 2002 there have been 10: Peterson, Evans, Lache Seastrunk, Trey Williams, Malcolm Brown, Jermie Calhoun, Christine Michel, Soso Jamabo, Johnathan Gray and Brandon Williams.
Evans has the size, speed, toughness and playmaking ability to be a superstar. On the hoof, he’s one of the best-looking high school players in any class. Can he continue toward super-stardom and be mentioned in the same breath as Peterson?
FIRST TAKE: JASON SUCHOMEL, ORANGEBLOODS.COM
“I think it’s a pretty safe claim to state that Evans is the best running back the state of Texas has produced since Peterson.
“Surprisingly, the state hasn’t been as deep on elite running back talent in recent years as some might expect, but even if it had been, it would be hard to top Evans’ natural talent. He has unlimited potential and there really is no weakness to his game.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“He is the best since Peterson. We’ve had guys like Brown, Gray was another one, but none of them are as explosive as Evans.
“That’s pretty heady stuff saying he’s the best since Peterson in the state of Texas since he’s only played two years of high school football, but I’m just so impressed with how explosive and quick-twitch he is and his ability to make people miss, break tackles, catch the football. It’s why his ranking is so high. I’d say so far, so good.”
