4-star defensive tackle Katron Evans commits to Tennessee

Tennessee kicked off the weekend festivities with another commitment today, continuing a string of dominance rarely seen in college football recruiting. 4-star defensive tackle Katron Evans is the latest to add his name to Tennessee’s class of 2021.

There are a few connections here with a player already on Tennessee’s roster: defensive tackle Dominic Bailey. Bailey was a 4-star signee in the 2020 class that enrolled in January. He’s actually from the same high school—St. Frances Academy—in Maryland. The two were teammates, and actually played beside each other on the defensive line.

But the similarities don’t stop there. Bailey and Evans have very similar strengths and athletic ability. Bailey is a bit better at rushing the passer, whereas Evans can clog a running lane.

Evans (6-foot-4 and 320 pounds) looks very adept at shedding the initial block and always keeping his eye on the ball carrier. He’s a bit slower than Bailey, but the raw power is evident. He can get too upright on certain plays, yet it doesn’t matter on the high school level because he’s strong enough to outright throw blockers out of the way. The main differences between him and his former teammate emerge on finishing in the backfield. Evans looks a bit better at wrapping up and finishing on plays, thanks in part to his size and better control.

Evans is currently ranked 179th nationally and 21st among defensive tackles. Tennessee’s recruiting class remains ranked second in the country, now up to 19 public commitments.