Trevon Evans made an impactful return to the football field, showcasing his skills with a powerful 54-yard touchdown run against Sefner Christian Academy. The George Jenkins High School running back followed up with another impressive 48-yard touchdown against Lake Placid during the jamboree-style kickoff classic held at George Jenkins on Friday. The event served as a warm-up for the upcoming 2024 regular season, where George Jenkins will face Lake Region in their season opener on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Evans, a senior, amassed 188 yards and three touchdowns during the jamboree.
Reflecting on his performance, Evans expressed his excitement about being a key player for his team. “It feels great to be a main factor of the team, to have that impact, and be someone the team can rely on for touchdowns when needed,” he said. “It feels good to be one of those guys.”
However, Evans’ journey back to the field was not without challenges. Last year, he was ineligible to play football after transferring from Kathleen High School due to academic struggles. Despite excelling in his freshman year, Evans found himself overwhelmed by the demands of honors courses in Algebra II, Chemistry, and English during his sophomore year.
“I was having trouble understanding the work, and even though I asked for help, the workload just piled up. I fell behind and couldn’t get it all done,” Evans explained.
Encouraged by his family and George Jenkins head coach Paul Freeman, Evans realized the importance of academics in pursuing his athletic dreams. Determined to improve, he took on additional classes and dedicated himself to studying.
“I really focused on school, did everything I could to raise my GPA, and made sure I was on top of my work. My mom helped a lot, and I just made sure I didn’t fall behind,” Evans said.
Evans’ hard work paid off as his GPA gradually improved, earning him the opportunity to return to the football field. Coach Freeman praised Evans’ dedication, noting how the young athlete’s work ethic had transformed both his academics and his athletic performance.
“(He) dedicated himself to summer workouts, organized his own rides to make sure he didn’t miss one, and communicated when things came up. That type of work ethic has solidified him with his teammates and really bought into our ‘family first’ mentality,” Freeman said. “He’s earned everything he’s worked for up to this point, saying to me that he’s ‘gotten a second chance and wants to take advantage of it.'”
With former George Jenkins running back Eddie Lake transferring to Mainland High School, Evans has stepped up to fill the position, aiming to showcase his abilities and prepare for a future in college football. As he continues to build on his skill set, this season is about proving that he has what it takes to succeed at the next level.
