Center’s Octavius Evans Offered By Mississippi State

The recruitment of Center junior wide receiver Octavius Evans has begun to heat up with three offers in less than three weeks.

Mississippi State became the latest school to enter the pursuit, Evans announced via Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

Evans (6-2, 186) has now six Division I FBS offers to his name. In addition to Mississippi State, the Roughriders' 2017 standout has scholarship opportunities from Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas State, and Louisiana-Lafayette.

Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, and ULL have all offered Evans since Feb. 26.

Thus far, Evans is the only 2017 East Texas recruit with an offer from Mississippi State.

Mississippi State, a member of the Southeastern Conference's ultra-competitive West Division, is coached by Dan Mullen. The Bulldogs are coming off a 9-4 season in 2015, which included a 4-4 record in the SEC and a 51-28 win over N.C. State in the Belk Bowl.

Since Mullen's arrival prior to the 2009 season, Mississippi State is 55-35 (.688) and 4-2 in bowl games.

The Bulldogs made a splash in East Texas' 2013 recruiting cycle by signing John Tyler receiver Fred Ross, who had originally committed to Oklahoma State. Ross led the SEC with a Mississippi State record 88 receptions in 2015, which was good for 1,007 yards and five touchdowns.

Evans played a big role in Center’s run toward a Class 4A Division II third-round playoff appearance and 10-3 overall record last season. He caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and nine touchdowns.

The receiver was one of nine players in the area to catch for at least 1,000 yards last season and one of just five underclassmen.

Center will move up to 4A D-I this upcoming season, and will share District 9-4A D-I with Bullard, Carthage, Chapel Hill, Henderson, Kilgore, and Palestine.

Evans, like all high school football players currently in their junior year, will become eligible to sign with any program that offers him on Feb. 1, 2017.

2017 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

• Judah Bell, Tyler Bishop Gorman, WR, 6-3, 180 — offers from Bowling Green, Houston, SMU, ULL (4)
• Lagaryonn Carson, Liberty-Eylau, DE, 6-4, 261 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, North Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M (9)
• Trestan Ebner, Henderson, WR, 5-11, 180 — committed to SMU; additional offers from Arkansas, Kansas (3)
• Montrell Estell, Hooks, WR, 6-2, 180 — offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Kansas, Notre Dame, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane (9)
• Octavius Evans, Center, WR, 6-2, 186 — offers from Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas State, ULL (6)
• Jordan Johnson, Hooks, ATH, 6-0, 195 — offer from Air Force (1)
• Kayce Medlock, Arp, ATH, 5-9, 186 — offers from SMU, Tulane, ULL (3)
• Damion Miller, John Tyler, WR, 6-1, 189 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Houston, Kansas, North Texas, Oklahoma State; Ole Miss; SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (9)
• LaMarcus Morton, Gilmer, WR, 6-2, 175 — offer from Tulsa (1)
• Javontavius Mosley, John Tyler, CB, 6-1, 170 — offers from Houston, SMU, Texas State, ULL, UTSA (5)
• Bryson Smith, John Tyler, ATH, 5-11, 160 — offers from Bowling Green, New Mexico, North Texas, SMU, Texas State, ULL (6)
• Major Tennison, Bullard, TE, 6-6, 248 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, SMU, Texas Tech (7)