Maurice Evans (American football)

Maurice D. Evans (born August 14, 1988) is a Canadian football defensive end for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Penn State.

Evans has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.

Early years
While playing for Christ The King Regional High School, Evans was a 4-star recruit by rivals.com and a First-team all state selection and was ranked the nations sixth best defensive end coming out of high school after recording 92 tackles, four sacks and four fumble recoveries as a senior. Evans was named an Army All-American as a senior and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was heavily recruited by USC, Penn State, and Notre Dame.

College career
Evans was an immediate contributor in 2006 as a true freshman, seeing action in all 13 games. He recorded 12 tackles (7 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He would be named to the First Team of the Sporting News's the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. In 2007—Evans' first starting season at defensive end—Evans recorded 12.5 sacks (including 3.5 against Indiana). He also had 54 tackles, with 21.5 tackles for loss, to go with the 12.5 sacks, broke up 3 passes in coverage, and forced 5 fumbles. He was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award as a sophomore.

By the start of the 2008 season Evans was had been named to numerous preseason All-American teams, including Phil Steele's All American first team. He is was also on the 2008 Bednarik, Lombardi, and Nagurski award watchlists.

On September 2, 2008, the Penn State University Police responded to a report of loud music at the apartment Evans shared with teammates Abe Koroma, AJ Wallace, and Andrew Quarless. A search revealed a small amount of marijuana. Evans and Koroma were each charged and both were subsequently suspended from the team. On September 17, 2008, Evans and Koroma were charged with one count of marijuana possession. Both players entered a program for first-time offenders; under the terms of the program, if they successfully complete a year of probation, the charges may be expunged from their records.

In 10 games in 2008, Evans recorded just 34 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. Evans elected to leave Penn State after to 2008 season and enter the NFL Draft. He trained for the NFL Scouting Combine at Power Train Sports Performance in Millersville, Pennsylvania.

New York Giants
Evans was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants after not being taken in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was waived during final cuts on September 4, 2009.

First stint with Buccaneers
Evans was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 6, 2009. He was waived on September 14.

Carolina Panthers
Evans was signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad on September 24. He was released on October 3 when defensive tackle Ra'Shon Harris was re-signed to the practice squad.

Second stint with Buccaneers
Evans was re-signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 7, 2009. He was waived on October 10, to make room for Tanard Jackson. Evans was signed to the Buccaneers' practice squad on October 28.

He was waived on June 14, 2010.

Chicago Bears
Evans signed with the Chicago Bears on August 4, 2010.

Evans was waived by the Bears on August 30, 2010.

BC Lions
Evans signed with the BC Lions on May 1, 2012.

Personal
Evans' father Michael Evans, was stabbed to death on Christmas Eve, 1988, near the family's home in East New York, Brooklyn, leaving his mother, Brenda, as the sole caregiver of four-month-old Maurice and his two older siblings.

He is a martial arts black belt.