Robert Evans Class: Senior Hometown: Birmingham, Ala. High School: Vestavia Hills HS Height / Weight: 5-11 / 190 Position: Whip Birthdate: 03/01/1981 Experience: 3L Honors: *All-Star Candidate*

Leader on defense who will start at the whip spot but could return to his previous position of safety if necessary . . . selected an NCAA Division I-AA All-Independent player in 2001 . . . should receive consideration for I-AA All-America honors this season . . . also starred for the Bulldogs’ baseball team . . . as a two-sport athlete, he has scored a defensive touchdown and hit a home run in two consecutive academic years . . . big hitter with good speed and football sense who has a knack for finding the ball . . . extremely competitive athlete who leaves everything on the field . . . returns as the second-leading tackler on defense behind Derrick Wheeler . . . spent his summer on a mission trip in Brazil . . . has become more an impact player since moving closer to the line of scrimmage . . . has tallied 149 tackles and six interceptions over the past two seasons.

2001: Finished second on the team in tackles with 91 stops, along with two tackles for loss, two interceptions, one pass break up, two quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and three caused fumbles . . . 44 of his 91 stops were solos . . . posted double-digit tackles in five games . . . tallied nine stops with a tackle for loss and quarterback hurry against Chattanooga . . . recorded 13 tackles and returned a blocked extra point for two points in the Bulldogs’ thrilling triple overtime win over Gardner-Webb . . . doubled up again against Nicholls State with a season-high 16 stops and a tackle for loss . . . made seven stops and recorded a quarterback hurry against Jacksonville State . . . made 11 tackles against Alcorn State . . . had three tackles against Charleston Southern but also posted an interception and a pass break up . . . made five solo stops against UT–Martin . . . recorded consecutive games with 10 tackles in each against Elon and nationally ranked Eastern Kentucky . . . also returned a blocked field goal attempt 58 yards for a score to bring the Bulldogs within eight points late in the game against Eastern Kentucky . . . had a fumble recovery against Eastern Kentucky as well . . . finished the season with seven stops and an interception against VMI.

2000: Started second on the depth chart at free safety, but started in five of the 10 games he played . . . missed most of spring practice due to participating with the Samford baseball team. . . . missed one game due to injury . . . led the team in interceptions with four, including one for a touchdown against UT–Martin . . . recorded 58 tackles, including a season- and career-high 20 against Elon . . . 31 of his 58 tackles were solos . . . posted nine tackles against UT–Martin, eight against Charleston Southern and six against Chattanooga . . . had two interceptions against UT–Martin . . . recorded six tackles for loss, including three in the homecoming win over Charleston Southern.

1999: Received valuable experience as a true freshman, contributing in the Bulldogs’ nickel package and on special teams . . . played in all 11 games, mainly in the Bulldogs’ nickel package . . . tallied 16 tackles on the season (14 solo) . . . had a season-high four stops with an interception in the season finale against Tennessee Tech . . . added three unassisted stops against Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky and Western Carolina.

High School: The 1998 Metro Player of the Year and a member of the Birmingham News Super All-State Team . . . recorded 96 tackles and picked off nine passes as he helped lead VHHS to the 1998 Class 6A state championship at Legion Field . . . twice named All-State . . . had eight tackles as the starting free safety in the 1999 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game . . . also selected as an honorable mention All-America . . . lettered in baseball for one of the top high school programs in the nation, helping lead the Rebels to three consecutive state titles.

Personal: Born March 1, 1981 . . . son of Bruce and Donna Evans . . . majoring in history.