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Senior Spotlight: Quarterback Caleb Evans

Senior Spotlight: Quarterback Caleb Evans

Football Nov 23
By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist

Painting Caleb Evans by numbers is the easy part.

ULM's senior quarterback will emerge from his four-year career in Monroe, Louisiana, with one of the most stat-packed bios in school history.

Since taking the reins as a true freshman, Evans has started 32 games in a row while becoming just the third player at ULM to compile more than 10,000 yards of total offense. He's the program's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with 34, has passed for 8,834 yards and has rushed for 2,022, best all-time in school history for a ULM quarterback.

"It just comes with a love of the game," Evans said. "When you first start playing, you have that love and passion just because you're on the field. It's the same feeling for me every time I get out on that field, having the opportunity to get back out there with the chance to get better. It's the same hunger and fire I had to win for the Warhawks."
 
Beyond his gaudy numbers, Evans has been a solid ambassador for the program. Even with the attention his talents gained him, Evans has been steady in the spotlight. Sure, he's the guy the media asks for after the big games, but he's also a willing participant after tough losses or rocky performances too.
 
"Never a dull moment," Evans said recently when asked about being a team spokesman so often. "I enjoy it all."

Evans formed a productive bond with offensive coordinator Matt Kubik, who recruited him before being hired at ULM. When Matt Viator brought Kubik to his staff from Stephen F. Austin, it helped lead Evans to ULM too.

"He was with me from the beginning, recruiting me with SFA and he stuck with me when he came to ULM and kept recruiting me," Evans said. "I felt the love right there when he kept recruiting me. He stuck it out the four years I've been here. We've built a relationship from coach to player, to friend. We communicate on a regular basis and about more than just football. I enjoy that relationship for sure."

Evans would have likely gone to Stephen F. Austin had Kubik stayed there. When Kubik left, Evans even considered starting at a junior college before ULM offered a scholarship.

"It seems like only yesterday Caleb threw the winning TD pass to beat South Alabama in OT his true freshman year," Kubik said. "Over the last three seasons, his evolution into one of the most prolific QBs in ULM history has been fun to watch. He has worked extremely hard to improve his game each season and has provided ULM fans with some great memories during his time in Monroe."
 
Evans has enjoyed plenty of monster performances. Picking his favorite isn't easy but he settled on a rivalry game win.

"There are a lot of games I could choose from," he said. "But it's probably the Lafayette game (a 2017 win). The reason I say the Lafayette game from my sophomore year is that was more of a coming out party. I already knew what I was capable of doing, but it was more to show the fans and the other teams in the Sun Belt what I was capable of doing. It felt good to show what I could do."
 
Evans accounted for 472 total yards and six TDs to lead ULM to a 56-50 double-overtime win at ULL in the Sun Belt opener for both teams in 2017. He connected on 28-of-34 passes for 343 yards and a TD, ran for 129 yards and rushed for a school-record five TDs. 
   
Now, he's part of a senior class that has made ULM football better under Viator. The quarterback credits his coach for having a steady hand and creating a stable culture that helps players navigate the sometimes rocky flow of a season. 
 
"He does a great job of keeping guys' minds right and having our goals and aspirations right there in our face," Evans said. "He reminds us to keep fighting and keep playing together. At the end of the day, we're a team and all that matters is that we're on the same page on the football field. He does a great job of keeping us together as a team."

Evans hopes to play football beyond college and has conversations about that goal often. Philosophically, he also understands that the rugged game never offers guarantees of a next time on the field.

"I talk with a lot of people I know that played college football," Evans said. "I do a lot of inward looking at myself. Just taking every moment as precious because you don't know when it will be your last time to play the game. I'm cherishing every moment, every practice, every time we have to watch film with the idea that this could be my last. But I'm also looking forward to the future of the opportunity to play in the NFL."

History is part of what defines a player's legacy. Evans hopes ULM fans will remember his exploits fondly when his career concludes.

"Hopefully good things," Evans said with a laugh. "Hopefully, they remember a great overall person and football player. I wanted to build a legacy here and it's come to fruition. We'll see down the road if they remember me." 
 
 
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