BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 9, 2024 15
It's no coincidence Evans' best game,
per Freeman, came two weeks after
Notre Dame had a bye. Evans used that
time to reassess realistic outcomes for
the rest of his senior season. Those
included what he did against Georgia
Tech. That incremental push forward
was a byproduct of the time and effort
Freeman said it would take to get the old
Evans back.
"I think it kind of gave him a chance
to take a deep breath and go, 'You know,
I've got to be better here,'" Notre Dame
offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock
said. "And he's got to play more consis-
tently, and I think he's got to just trust
that he's healthy enough to play as con-
sistently and as fast as he wants to play
and needs to play."
At his best, Evans is one of the best.
Period. The Irish offense is still waiting
to reap the full effects of that, but there
is still time for it to happen. Don't count
Evans out just yet.
It wouldn't be wise to do that. He just
might be on the verge of another breakout,
especially since the Notre Dame passing
game is coming around and improving.
Evans is coming around and improv-
ing himself. A perfect storm.
"I've felt tremendous when I'm on the
field playing," Evans said. "I've honestly
had no hiccups, pain or feeling off. Ev-
ery time I've been on the practice field
I feel good. I feel strong. I feel healthy.
Stable. So, I've been pretty good." ✦
Evans had 29 catches for 422 yards in eight
games last year, but only 14 receptions for
108 yards in his first seven games of 2024.
PHOTO BY MATT RUDOLPH
