Texas Tech Becomes Second School To Offer Center’s Octavius Evans

Center wide receiver Octavius Evans became the first East Texas player in the 2017 recruiting class to receive a second Division I FBS offer, as Texas Tech officially made the promising playmaker a target.

The offer was first reported by new Center offensive coordinator Ricky Joe Meeks, via his personal Twitter account.

The Roughriders' pass-catcher was first offered by Louisiana Tech. The only other East Texas prospect in 2017 with an offer is John Tyler receiver Damion Miller, who was offered by Texas Tech back in December.

Evans (6-2, 180), who has an early four-star rating from Scout.com, burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2013 and continued an outstanding beginning to his high school career with a strong follow-up campaign last fall.

Through two varsity seasons, Evans has 112 catches for 1,332 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had 67 catches for 734 yards and eight touchdowns in 2014.

Texas Tech is certainly no stranger to the East Texas area. The Red Raiders signed Lufkin receiver Keke Coutee and Longview lineman Broderick Washington earlier this month, and have several impact players from the region already on their roster, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes (Whitehouse), and receivers Reginald Davis (Tenaha) and Dylan Cantrell (Whitehouse).

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury's "air raid" offense can be a strong selling point to prospective recruits, especially for receiving targets. Tech is coming off a tough 2014 season, which ended with a 4-8 finish overall and 2-7 mark in Big 12 play.

Evans and Center could be a team to watch in 2015. The Roughriders will be under new leadership as three-time state champion Barry Bowman takes over as head coach after longtime boss Kevin Goodwin left for an assistant position at Conroe Oak Ridge.

Center will be trying to improve upon a 2-7 campaign last season. It won't be easy, sharing a district with the likes of Gladewater, Tatum and Atlanta, which all journeyed at least three rounds deep in the playoffs in 2014.

2017 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

• Octavius Evans, WR, Center, 6-2, 180 -- offers from Louisiana Tech, Texas Tech (2)
• Damion Miller, WR, John Tyler, 6-2, 185 -- offer from Texas Tech (1)