Let's Meet: Quarterback Caleb Evans

Unlike the article about Dimitri Holloway earlier, this article is not specific to Caleb Evans signing with the Redblacks. It was written in November 2019 and provides a good recap of his career and his successes.

As a write this, there is no quarterback behind Nick Arbuckle on the roster signed beyond the start of free agency in February, so Evans should have a good opportunity. 

The original article can be read here. It was written by Adam Hunsucker. The photo is by Glenn Beil for USA Today Sports. 

Caleb Evans couldn’t ignore the symmetry. If Saturday is indeed his final game as Louisiana-Monroe’s quarterback, it seems fitting for Evans to finish in the same venue where he first took flight.

September marked the two-year anniversary of that breakout performance at Cajun Field. Evans proved he had the talent and the mettle to be the next link in ULM’s proud lineage of signal-callers.  

“I just felt like I was ready to play college football and show people what I could do,” Evans said. “It feels good for the last game to be down there. It’s kind of reminiscent of my sophomore year and I’m ready to do it.”

In just his sixth start, Evans blistered Louisiana-Lafayette for 472 total yards and six total touchdowns. His five rushing scores tied a program record and the Warhawks stunned the Ragin’ Cajuns in a 56-50 win in double overtime.

Perched above the field in the coach’s booth, ULM offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Kubik realized he had something special in Evans.

“It’s definitely been a journey for both of us the past four years,” Kubik said. “He’s helped me out a ton as a coach and I’d like to think I did the same for him as a player. Sometimes quarterbacks and coordinators have a spat, but we’ve never had a bad day and we kind of grew up together.”

The relationship between coach and quarterback predates their time at ULM. It began when Evans committed to FCS Stephen F. Austin while Kubik was the Lumberjacks’ offensive coordinator.

Evans grew up one of nine children in Mansfield, Texas and starred at Bishop Dunne Catholic School in Dallas. His recruiting experience was atypical, and despite winning a state championship as a junior and throwing a school-record 64 touchdowns as a senior, the 6-2, dual-threat passer didn’t have many suitors.

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Kubik left to join Matt Viator’s first staff at ULM following the 2015 season. On the way out of Nacogdoches, he gave then-SFA head coach Clint Conque, who was an assistant at Louisiana Tech while Kubik quarterbacked the Bulldogs, his word not to recruit Evans.

By the time the Warhawks landed a commitment from Houston-C.E. King quarterback Johnathan Brantley, Evans had decommitted from SFA and decided to follow the same path as his brother, Jerod Evans, in the junior-college ranks.

The elder Evans parlayed two years at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College into a scholarship offer from Virginia Tech. He started every game for the Hokies in 2016 before declaring for the NFL Draft.

Brantley spurned ULM for Tulane, and with Evans back on the market, Kubik made the call and landed the commitment for the second time.

“Originally that wasn’t the plan, but things worked out the way they did,” Kubik said. “A lot of people don’t know Caleb never took an official visit here and fortunately we had a good relationship with the family.”

Though Evans signed with ULM sight unseen, he trusted Kubik was leading him in the right direction.

“Coach ‘Kub’ kept it real with me the whole time he was at SFA and he told me who was at ULM and what it would look like,” Evans said. “I remember meeting all the football guys at a basketball game and it reminded me of my high-school days with everyone building a bond. It wasn’t what I expected but I love it now.”

The plan was to redshirt Evans and let him develop behind starter Garrett Smith. That all changed when Smith suffered a season-ending injury. After splitting time with backup Will Collins, Evans started the final four games of the 2016 season and led the Warhawks to a pair of wins.

Evans won the job outright the next year and his 33 consecutive starts ranks sixth among active FBS quarterbacks. He carried himself with a coolness under fire and competitive spirit that won over the huddle.

ULM reached bowl eligibility during Evans’ junior year and can repeat the feat with another win at Cajun Field on Saturday.

 “Everybody in the building gets along with Caleb because of that demeanor and how tough he is,” Viator said. “The guy’s taken some shots over the past four years and he’s never come to the sideline.

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Among current FBS quarterbacks, only Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts has been more productive than Evans, who already holds the records for rushing touchdowns (35) and rushing yards by a quarterback (2,091) at ULM.  

Evans overtook Steven Jyles for second all-time in career passing yards in ULM’s 45-31 win over Georgia State on November 9. He joined Kolton Browning as the only quarterbacks in school history with over 11,000 total yards and 9,000 passing yards in a career.

He’s 534 yards away from tying Browning in career total yards.

Some of the notable names Evans passed on his way up the record books include Bubby Brister, John Holman, Stan Humphries, Doug Pederson and Raymond Philyaw.

“It all went by so fast and I’ve enjoyed every moment,” Evans said. “I feel like did that to the best of my ability and I never took any practice, film session or Saturday on the field for granted.”

So...what happened? Evans accounted for more than 400 yards of offense in a 31-30 loss to in-state rival 10-2 Louisiana-Lafayette. This guy could be fun to watch. 👍