Four-star linebacker Shamar Evans is undeniably forming a stronger bond with the Florida Gators, but don't go printing commitment shirts just yet. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Ruston High School product has visited Gainesville twice in the last three months, clearly feeling something special in the Swamp, yet he is playing it super cool, keeping everyone guessing about his top schools.
Evans got his first taste of Gainesville back in April, just before the Orange and Blue Game, and he was absolutely blown away. He told Gators Online that "Everything was amazing and met my expectations in many ways." The practice, the facilities, the fans, the whole culture , he saw it all. He specifically called out the "immaculate" fanbase and said "Florida has definitely climbed their way into the top five; no doubt." Then he came back last month for the Grille in the Ville summer cookout, chopping it up with position coach Greg Gasparato and defensive coordinator Brad White. His quote after that visit? "Gainesville has like a deep spot in my heart. I love it out here... Every staff member here has some type of energy. It’s amazing. Every time I come out here, I feel like I’m at home. I know for sure I could come here and get developed right off. Just because of the amount of experience the staff has at my position here." That's some serious praise!
So, you'd think Florida would be the runaway favorite, right? Nope. Evans says he is "not at a list of top schools," keeping things vague as the fall season approaches. He is tracking all the programs staying in touch, and that list is still stacked: Alabama, LSU, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. Ole Miss was the first to offer him, and with him playing high school ball in both Louisiana and Mississippi, LSU and Ole Miss are definitely the "home-state" teams to watch. Florida is making him a high-priority target, but the battle is far from over. Rivals currently gives Florida the edge in their industry consensus predictions at 35.0%, but Alabama is right there at 21.0%.
This blue-chip recruit is a hot commodity, ranked as high as No. 6 among inside linebackers by ESPN. The next big move for Florida? Getting him back on campus in Gainesville this fall. Until then, Evans plans to visit several other programs. This recruitment rollercoaster is just getting started, and you know everyone will be glued to every move.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.