Nebraska’s Justin Evans named to Rimington Trophy watchlist
Evans is one of 13 Big Ten linemen selected, the highest conference total, as Nebraska prepares for the upcoming season with a revamped offensive line.
Nebraska senior centre Justin Evans has been selected for the Rimington Trophy Preseason Watch List, a recognition of the top collegiate centres in the United States. The announcement places Evans among 40 players on the national shortlist, with the ultimate winner to be determined by the trophy committee.
The selection process for the watchlist relies on performance metrics compiled by Pro Football Focus (PFF). Evans’ inclusion highlights the depth of talent within the Big Ten conference, which holds the highest number of linemen on the list with 13 representatives.
The Rimington Trophy is named in honour of Dave Rimington, a former Nebraska player and College Football Hall of Famer. During his collegiate career, the two-time first-team All-American and two-time Outland Trophy winner also swept the Outland and Lombardi Awards in his senior season, finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.
Evans, a native of East Orange, New Jersey, brings significant continuity to the Huskers’ roster. Standing 6-2 and weighing 315 pounds, he has started 31 of his 38 consecutive games. He is one of only two returning starters for Nebraska’s offensive line, a unit that underwent significant changes during the offseason.
Last season, Evans started all 13 games at centre. His performance on the line contributed to teammate Emmett Johnson earning first-team All-America honours. Johnson averaged just under 121 rushing yards per game last season, while the Nebraska team averaged just under 146 rushing yards per game.
This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire.
