Zack Evans’ first foray into CFL free agency ended well for him … although there were some initial misgivings.
The 27-year-old Reginan admitted Tuesday that he went into free agency with something akin to a fear of the unknown. But that vanished when he signed a one-year contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders — the team with which he began his CFL career in 2012.
“Honestly, free agency is scary,” Evans said during a conference call with Regina media. “It’s so questionable. It’s either really good for you or it could be really bad for you; you have no idea.
“When this (contract offer) fell into my lap and I heard what was going on here, it was just the perfect fit (and) the perfect fairy tale for me.”
Evans was playing for the PFC’s Regina Thunder when he initially joined the Roughriders as a territorial junior. He then played eight games with Saskatchewan in each of the 2012 and ’13 CFL seasons.
The Roughriders left him unprotected in the draft to stock the expansion Ottawa Redblacks — and the first-year franchise plucked Evans in the third round of that draft.
“It was very tough to leave,” Evans said Tuesday from Ottawa. “Honestly, I thought I would always be a Rider and I would retire a Rider. But, hey, life throws you curveballs and you’ve got to make the best out of it.
“Ottawa gave me an opportunity to come in, earn a spot and become the player I am today … I’m very thankful to Ottawa for taking me in the first place. (Signing with Saskatchewan) is a great, great experience coming back home and I’m really excited to get back to work.”
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Evans played 18 regular-season games for the Redblacks in 2017 and recorded 23 tackles and five sacks.
In 86 career regular-season games, Evans has registered 87 tackles, 22 sacks and one interception that he returned 66 yards for a touchdown. He’s a two-time Grey Cup champion, having won CFL titles with Saskatchewan in 2013 and Ottawa in 2016.
He returns to the Roughriders a different man than the one who left Regina.
“I was looking at old pictures today of the last game or the last season I played with the Riders and I looked like a 15-year-old boy,” Evans said with a chuckle. “I had a shaved face. I was looking skinny. It didn’t look like me.
“Now I have a wife. I have a son. I have another Grey Cup ring. I have matured as a player and I’m excited to bring my experience back to the Riders and help out the team. Hopefully we can get another Grey Cup there.”
The Roughriders rotated three Canadians on their defensive line in 2017, with Makana Henry, Ese Mrabure and Eddie Steele getting playing time.
That trio combined for four sacks and 17 quarterback pressures last season. In addition to his five sacks, Evans had 11 pressures for the Redblacks in 2017.
Mrabure and Steele became free agents Tuesday and neither one has been signed yet, by Saskatchewan or by another team.
Evans’ addition is the latest move the Roughriders have made along their defensive line.
First, Charleston Hughes was acquired from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and then Willie Jefferson was signed to a contract extension before free agency arrived. Those two were among the league leaders in quarterback sacks in 2017.
Evans is eager to work with those two players as well as the Roughriders’ other defenders.
“Knowing our O-linemen from Ottawa and how scared they were to play the Saskatchewan defence, I can’t wait to strike fear in the eyes of the whole league,” Evans said.
“I know how good those guys are. I’ve watched film on them and I’ve seen how they play, how they come together, how they work together and how their defence works. It makes sense. Everyone does their job. Everyone works together. It’s just the perfect way for me to continue my career. I’m so excited.”
That said, Evans will have to adjust to a new scheme. He has never before played for Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones, whose defensive system often requires linemen to do things somewhat differently.
That’s fine by Evans.
“I was watching film today — I watched three or four games — and I just got elated,” he said. “I got so excited because I fit into the system absolutely perfectly.
“I’m really excited to work with Chris Jones. He’s a mastermind when it comes to defence and I can’t wait to start, to understand my role, to contribute the best way I possibly can and to have lots of fun.”
Evans’ decision to return to Regina reunites him with Roughriders offensive lineman Dan Clark, who eschewed free agency to sign a two-year contract extension Tuesday.
Clark and Evans were teammates with the Thunder before playing together with the Roughriders.
“I was so excited (to see that Clark was back with the team),” Evans said. “I was like, ‘Man, it’s going to be weird to not have Dan on the team if he doesn’t sign.’ As soon as I saw that, I was super-excited. I’m excited to play with him again.”
