By Mark Pszonak
With the 2025 season quickly approaching, coaches are still finetuning their rosters. That is what first-year Norfolk State head coach Michael Vick did yesterday when he signed former Auburn-signee wide receiver JJ Evans.
Auburn ➡️ North Alabama ➡️ Norfolk State
— Norfolk State Football 🔰 (@NorfolkStateFB) July 7, 2025
Got ourselves a former four-star prospect! 💪#GoldStandard | @JJ_Evans9 pic.twitter.com/hZnpk3uykt
Evans was a Class of 2020 recruit from Montevallo, Alabama who signed with Auburn after also considering Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Georgia and Clemson. He earned all of this recruiting attention after finishing his junior season with 74 receptions for 1,706 yards and 18 touchdowns.
However, after three seasons with the Tigers he never saw the field. This led to his transfer to North Alabama, where he showed signs of his potential with 17 receptions for 139 yards and three touchdowns during the 2023 season. That progress came to a halt in 2024 when he failed to register a reception in seven games.
Looking for one last chance to re-ignite his playing career, Evans found his way back into the portal during the spring, which eventually led to his signing with Norfolk State yesterday. Coach Vick has done a good job bringing talent to campus, and while Evans’ addition is far from a sure thing, it is worth the gamble. Let’s see if Coach Vick can work some magic.
