Ethan Evans Bio
Ethan Gray Evans (born July 19, 2001) is an American professional football punter and kickoff specialist for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 254 pounds, he handles punting and kickoff duties for one of the league’s most consistent franchises. Evans played college football for the Wingate Bulldogs and was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Rams, becoming the highest-selected Division II player in that draft.
After just two NFL seasons, Evans has already collected multiple weekly honors and established himself as a trusted specialist. His combination of distance, hang time, and directional kicking has made him a key piece of the Rams’ special teams unit.
Early Life and Background
Ethan Gray Evans was born on July 19, 2001, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, and grew up in the same small Surry County community. He attended North Surry High School, where he split his time between football and track while also earning membership in the National Honor Society. His balance of academics and athletics shaped a disciplined approach that would later define his professional career.
At North Surry, Evans set several school kicking records, including the longest made field goal at 51 yards, the most career field goals with 17, and the most career extra points with 77. He was twice named the Western Piedmont 2A Conference Specialist of the Year and was invited to the state’s East–West All-Star Game after graduating. He became the first North Surry player to participate in the event in 23 years and only the eighth overall, an early signal that his leg would carry him well beyond the high school level.
Following his senior season, Evans committed to play college football for the Division II Wingate Bulldogs, choosing a smaller program where he could develop as a multi-phase specialist.
Path to American Football
Evans arrived at Wingate University as a developmental prospect who could handle punting, kickoffs, and field-goal duties. He quickly earned the starting punter role and became a four-year special teams anchor for the Bulldogs. From the 2019 season through 2022, he served as the team’s primary punter and kickoff specialist, adding field goal and extra point responsibilities as a senior.
His senior campaign established him as one of the most productive specialists in NCAA Division II. Evans posted 67 kickoffs for 4,180 yards, averaging 62.4 yards per kick with 44 touchbacks, while punting 77 times for 3,518 yards and a 45.69 average that ranked second in Division II. He placed 39 punts inside the 20-yard line, recorded 30 punts of more than 50 yards, converted 10 of 18 field goals with a long of 41, and was 43 of 44 on extra points. He twice earned D2Football.com national player of the week honors and collected first-team All-South Atlantic Conference, all-region, D2CCA first-team All-American, and Associated Press first-team All-American recognition, making him one of three Wingate players to earn AP All-American status that year.
Ethan Evans Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Across four seasons at Wingate, Evans appeared in 39 games and became one of the program’s most decorated specialists. He finished his college career with 186 punts for 8,027 yards, averaging 43.2 yards per punt with a long of 72, along with 47 fair catches, 53 punts of more than 50 yards, and 89 punts inside the 20-yard line. On kickoffs, he recorded 213 kicks for 13,230 yards, an average of 62.1 yards, and 120 touchbacks, numbers that underscored his dual-threat value.
His postseason visibility grew as a senior when he was invited to both the Hula Bowl and the East–West Shrine Bowl in 2023. He was one of only four Division II players selected for the Shrine Bowl, a showcase that put him in front of every NFL scouting department.
NFL Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Evans was selected in the seventh round, 223rd overall, of the 2023 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He was also chosen in the tenth round, 73rd overall, of the 2023 USFL draft by the Pittsburgh Maulers. In his rookie season with the Rams, Evans handled punting duties and impressed quickly. In Week 11 of the 2023 season, he was named National Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, becoming the first Ram to earn a player of the week recognition that season. He finished the year with 63 punts for 3,101 yards, averaging 49.22 yards per punt, a strong start for a Day 3 pick.
In 2024, Evans continued as the Rams’ primary punter, recording 55 punts for 2,530 yards and a 46.0 average while refining his directional kicking and consistency. His growth in hang time and placement set the stage for an even bigger 2025.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2023–Present)
Selected by the Rams in 2023, Evans has remained the team’s punter and kickoff specialist ever since. Through his first two seasons he demonstrated the leg strength and accuracy that had defined his college resume, while gradually expanding his role on kickoff coverage units. By the start of 2025, he had become a trusted veteran voice in the Rams’ special teams room despite his young age.
That trust paid off in a dramatic moment in Week 11 of the 2025 season, when Evans landed four punts inside the 20-yard line during a 21-19 win over the Seattle Seahawks. One of those punts was placed at the one-yard line late in the fourth quarter, sealing the victory and earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the second time in his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Evans is best known for his directional punting and ability to flip field position. He combines a strong leg with above-average hang time, allowing him to limit return yards even when coverage breaks down. Coaches have praised his composure in high-pressure moments, a trait highlighted by his late-game placement against Seattle. His continued growth as a kickoff specialist also gives the Rams flexibility in formation and strategy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most memorable milestones of Evans’ young career are his selection as the highest-drafted Division II player in the 2023 NFL draft, his first NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award in 2023, and his repeat honor in 2025 following the clutch performance against the Seahawks. He also became only the second Wingate Bulldog ever drafted into the NFL.
Ethan Evans Career Wins
As a punter and kickoff specialist, traditional win totals do not apply, but Evans has compiled a steady list of weekly and postseason honors. His two NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards, his first-team All-American nods, and his Senior Bowl-style invitational appearances reflect a career built on consistent high-level performance.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Evans has appeared in every regular-season game for the Rams since 2023. He earned his first NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award in Week 11 of the 2023 season and matched that honor in Week 11 of 2025. Across 2023 and 2024, he has combined for 118 punts and more than 5,600 punting yards while serving as the team’s primary kickoff specialist.
Other Performances
At Wingate, Evans was a four-year starter and a two-time first-team All-South Atlantic Conference selection, adding first-team All-SAC honors as a placekicker in 2022. His Associated Press and D2CCA first-team All-American selections as a senior confirmed his place among the best specialists in college football that season.
Ethan Evans Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Evans’ immediate family are limited. He grew up in Mount Airy, North Carolina, and his high school and college records indicate steady family support through his athletic development.
Personal Life
Evans has not publicly disclosed details about a spouse, partner, or children. He resides in the Los Angeles area during the NFL season and returns to North Carolina in the offseason.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has marked a clear step forward for Evans in his third NFL year. He took on an expanded role on kickoff coverage and continued to handle all punting duties for the Rams. His Week 11 performance against the Seahawks, including a one-yard-line punt that sealed a 21-19 win, demonstrated his growth into a late-game weapon for the coaching staff.
Beyond that single game, Evans has been a steady presence for a Rams team contending in the NFC playoff picture. His ability to control field position has complemented a defensive unit that consistently forces opponents into long drives. The Rams’ special teams coaches have leaned on his experience as a former All-American to mentor younger coverage players.
With multiple years of team control remaining and two weekly awards already on his resume, Evans enters the back half of the 2025 season as one of the more reliable young punters in the NFC. His continued development suggests he could remain a fixture in Los Angeles for years to come.