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). He played college football for the Wingate Bulldogs and was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Rams. Evans has established himself as one of the league’s most reliable punters, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice in his young career.
Evans grew up in Mount Airy, North Carolina, and attended North Surry High School, where he played football and track while being a member of the National Honor Society. He set multiple school kicking records, including a 51-yard field goal, 17 career field goals, and 77 career extra points. He was named Western Piedmont 2A Conference Specialist of the Year twice and became the first North Surry player in 23 years selected for the state’s East-West All-Star Game upon graduating in 2019. Evans committed to continue his football career at Division II Wingate University.
College Career at Wingate University
Evans became one of the most accomplished special teams players in Wingate Bulldogs history during his four seasons from 2019 to 2022. He served as the team’s starting punter and kickoff specialist throughout his college career while also handling field goals and extra points as a senior. In his final season, he posted 67 kickoffs for 4,180 yards with a 62.4 average and 44 touchbacks, along with 77 punts for 3,518 yards averaging 45.69 yards per punt, which ranked second-best in all of NCAA Division II. He had 39 punts inside the 20 and 30 punts traveling more than 50 yards while converting 10 of 18 field goals with a long of 41 yards and 43 of 44 extra points. He was named national player of the week by D2Football.com twice and earned first-team All-American honors from both the D2CCA and Associated Press. Evans finished his Wingate career having appeared in 39 games, producing 186 punts for 8,027 yards with a long of 72 yards and 213 kickoffs for 13,230 yards with 120 touchbacks. He was invited to the Hula Bowl and was one of only four Division II players selected for the East-West Shrine Bowl in 2023.
Professional Career
The Los Angeles Rams selected Evans in the seventh round with the 223rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He became the highest-selected Division II player in that draft and only the second Wingate Bulldog ever drafted into the NFL. In his rookie season, Evans punted 63 times for 3,101 yards, averaging 49.22 yards per punt, and earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 11 of the 2023 season, becoming the first Rams player to receive a player of the week recognition that year. He followed with 55 punts for 2,530 yards averaging 46.0 yards per punt in the 2024 season.
In Week 11 of the 2025 season, Evans delivered a standout performance against the Seattle Seahawks, landing four punts inside the 20-yard line including one at the one-yard line late in the fourth quarter of a 21-19 Rams victory. That performance earned him his second career NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award. Through three NFL seasons, Evans has recorded 168 punts for 7,946 yards with a 47.3-yard average, 70 punts inside the 20, and a long punt of 72 yards.
Career Highlights and Achievements
Evans has accumulated notable accomplishments across both his college and professional career. At Wingate, he earned First-team Division II All-American honors in 2022 while also being named First-team All-SAC as both a punter and placekicker. In the NFL, he has twice been recognized as NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, demonstrating his ability to perform at the highest level. His career NFL statistics include 168 punts for 7,946 yards with a 47.3-yard average and 70 punts inside the 20-yard line through the 2025 season.
Personal Life
Ethan Evans is from Mount Airy, North Carolina. He attended North Surry High School in his hometown, where he excelled in both football and track while maintaining membership in the National Honor Society. Information about his family, spouse, or children has not been made publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
Evans entered the 2025 season as a key component of the Los Angeles Rams special teams unit. Through the first portion of the season, he continued his consistent performance, maintaining his ability to flip the field and pin opponents deep in their territory. His Week 11 selection as NFC Special Teams Player of the Week highlighted his continued growth and reliability. Working alongside special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer, Evans has developed into a dependable weapon for the Rams whose skill at placing punts inside the 20-yard line provides significant field-position advantages. His contributions have been valuable as Los Angeles continues to compete for playoff positioning within the NFC.