In a picture with other Big Ten signees, Craig Evans (74) stands after a childhood saved by his selfless aunt. Enoch Smith Jr. (56) played a huge role in getting Evans to switch his commitment to the Spartans.
Photo by Jim Redman
Hidden by a curtain from the 700 attending the USA Football National Signing Day ceremony on Wednesday at AT&T Stadium,
Craig Evans and Toya Bolden clutched in a long, emotional, shoulder-shaking hug.
Evans, a hulking 6-foot-2, 313-pound defensive lineman, had moments before signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Michigan State.
Bolden, his proud aunt, gained custody of Evans at age 3 and raised him like a son of her own.
"I drove a long way to get here,'' explained Bolden. "No way I was going to miss this.''
See the MaxPreps National Signing Day homepageEvans, a four-star recruit, will anchor the defensive line for USA Football's U-19 team in a Friday international game against Canada set for 7:30 p.m. (CT) at UT-Arlington's Maverick Stadium, one of six age-group games this weekend. Friday's other games: 1 p.m. U-15 (eighth graders); 4 p.m. U16 (ninth graders). Saturday's schedule: 1 p.m. U17 (ninth-10th graders); 4 p.m. U17 (10th-11th graders); 7 p.m. U18 (11th-12th graders).
Craig Evans, Sun Prairie
Photo courtesy of 247Sports.com
How Evans became a sought-after puzzle piece for one of college football's best defenses in 2013 is a remarkable one, considering his start in life.
Personal problems prevented Evans' mother from raising her son. Already with two kids of her own, Aunt Toya swooped in, but even in her loving home of Jackson, Miss, there was no guarantee of a happy ending for Evans.
"Puddy [nickname for Craig] could have strayed the wrong way,'' Bolden said. "I was always telling him he had to be careful.''
Her other words of advice that her nephew took to heart: "Put God first and stay humble.''
Bolden's sons became good role models for their younger cousin. Maurice Bolden is playing basketball professionally in England. Treshawn is a 6-8 freshman forward on the Jackson State basketball team.
When Evans reached ninth grade, he moved in with older brother Michael Evans and went to
Sun Prairie (Wis.), and turned into a football star for the high school team. The Cardinals went 10-1 in Evans' senior season.
Colleges targeted Evans and he made campus visits to Wisconsin, Michigan State and Arkansas. Not surprisingly, considering his background, a program with a family atmosphere became a priority for the
No. 20 defensive tackle in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Evans verbally committed to Wisconsin on Jan. 3, but an unofficial visit to Michigan State on Jan. 25 indicated he was having second thoughts. Two days before signing day, Evans announced a flip to Michigan State.
It turns out that USA Football teammate
Enoch Smith Jr. of
Mount Carmel (Chicago), another Michigan State defensive line signee, was working behind the scenes.
"Enoch has been recruiting me since we met in a camp last year in Chicago,'' Evans explained. "He gave me his reasons for wanting to go to Michigan State and convinced me. I called the coaches at Wisconsin and there were no hard feelings.''
Smith and Evans say they hope to be playing side by side in the Spartans' forward wall.
Evans, who plans to study business management with designs on eventually having his own business, wants to repay his aunt for all she has done for him.
"She's my mom and my father all in one,'' he said. "She means the world to me. Raising six kids the way she did, if I can make her life easier, that's what I want to do. She's my everything.''
When a situation needs her nephew's attention, Toya Bolden uses code words.
"I say ‘It's time to eat.' That always gets Puddy's attention.''
