By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
OTTAWA -- Playing next to Notre Dame freshman to be Joe Otting throughout his Hayden football career, Ben Evans might have been overlooked by some college recruiters.
Former Hayden standout lineman Ben Evans (72) talks with his high school coach, Bill Arnold, during an East practice session for Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Hays. Arnold is coaching the defensive line for the East. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the 6-foot-2, 275-pound lineman said he wouldn't have traded the opportunity to play alongside Otting for anything.
"I loved being next to Joe on the offensive line and on defense,'' Evans said. "We're brothers. We've been playing together since sixth grade and I'm happy for him. That's awesome. I mean, he's living the dream.''
But now Evans, an All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick, is looking forward to showing what he can do, beginning with Saturday night's 50th Kansas Shrine Bowl at Hays and continuing this fall at Coffeyville Community College.
"I'm excited for this opportunity just because I'll be able to show myself out a little bit more and that's another reason why I felt I should go juco because I'll have another opportunity to play and obviously Coffeyville knows how to place kids at a higher level,'' Evans said during an interview at the East training camp at Ottawa University.
Obviously, the goal for most every football players is to try to land an NCAA Division I scholarship, but Evans said he's not going to limit his opportunities after Coffeyville and just wants to end up in the situation that suits him the best.
"I'm trying not to have that D-I or bust mentality, I'm just trying to play,'' Evans said.
Evans is playing defensive line for the East and as it turned out, he's being coached by his high school coach, Bill Arnold, in his final high school game.
Evans said he's just grateful to get an opportunity to play in Kansas' premier all-star game.
"It means a lot to me, especially playing for the Shrine Hospitals and everything,'' Evans said "Going up against some of the best linemen in the state, I'm just excited to compete and really excited for this opportunity.''
Evans is one of four Shawnee County products on the East roster, joining Shawnee Heights' Gavin Zaperku, Rossville's Jacob Carver and Washburn Rural's Ty Weber.
Zuperku and Carver are playing in the offensive line for the East while Weber is play linebacker.
Kickoff for Saturday night's game is 7 p.m.
