By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

MONTGOMERY – A few years ago, Montevallo wide receiver JJ Evans contemplated never playing sports again and was in an internal battle to do so, now heading into his senior season with the Bulldogs in 2019, he’s ready to be the state’s best player.

At the ASWA postseason awards banquet on Tuesday, Jan. 15, held at Montgomery’s Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, the top 48 players were honored with the top players from their respective classification as well as Mr. Football were also named.

While Evans was named one of the six best players in his classification, one of the three best offensive players in his classification and one of the 48 best players regardless of classification, he didn’t win, and that instantly turned into fuel for his 2019 season.

“That just motivated me to go harder next year, so I’ll make sure I’m up there,” Evans vowed after seeing several players giving acceptance speeches. “I want to be the best in the state.”

It’s an understandable goal for the talented four-star recruit, who totaled 1,704 receiving yards on 64 receptions, which is second all-time in the state by just 21 yards, while also adding 18 touchdown catches.

He had a chance to break the state record in the first round of the playoffs but came up just short, which left a burning desire for him to push himself to be even better next year.

When he talks about the success of the season, he gets excited, but when he starts talking about improving even more to lead his team to a deep playoff run, break records and attempt to be Mr. Football, the biggest grin comes over his face, showing he just wants to be the best player he can possibly while also helping his team.

Even though he is already looking forward, Evans didn’t forget how special the honor was of being invited to the awards banquet.

“It was fun to be here, alongside so many great players, it was a cool experience to see everything that goes down,” he said.

The main reason he is so humble, and wants to work hard to be the best he can is due to the fact that he almost never stepped foot back on the football field after the passing of his father.

It took years after witnessing the death to even get the itch to play sports again, and didn’t really start playing football again until his sophomore year of high school. One year later, and he is considered one of the best receivers in the country.

“It’s very exciting,” Evans said. “I could have never come back and if I hadn’t come back, none of this would be happening to me. This game has been big in my life and I’m just glad I’m playing football again.”

Currently with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Southern Cal, Texas A&M and many other schools after exploding this season, Evans seems to be on everybody’s radar following his breakout season, reassuring his decision to play the game, and making his dad more than proud as he looks down on him.

After every game this season, people made sure to exclaim that he is the real deal, and with his burning passion to continue to work hard and improve in every facet of the game, it’s unlikely he declines during his senior season with the return of quarterback Malik Inabinette, who loves to target the trustworthy receiver, as well as running back Deon Gilliland that will make defenses focus on the backfield as well.

During his junior season, Evans posted 100-plus receiving yards in eight of the Bulldogs’ 11 games and posted at least one touchdown in 10 of their 11 games.

His lowest output of the season came in the first round of the playoffs with 73 yards, but in every other game, he had at least 81 yards and one touchdown.

Evans posted four 200-plus yard games, including a stretch at one point where he had 202-plus yards in three of four games. He also had one game with four touchdown receptions and another with five.

All of those numbers are astonishing, but just represent a small part of the person Evans is.

With his work ethic and determination to be the best, we’ll likely see more big things from Evans in 2019, while also continuing to grow his leadership skills as part of a team with high hopes this offseason.