During my 31 years in Corporate America. One of the most important concepts I’ve ever learned how to create your value to your employer. Well players, rookie running back and former University of Michigan standout, Chris Evans, did just that in his NFL debut on Saturday with the Bengals. He carried the rock 12 times for 25 yards and scored one touchdown.
That may not sound impressive on the surface but he was the second leading rusher on the night and the only running back to score a touchdown. That’s called value my friend and as long as he can continue to create value, the Bengals will continue to need his services.
They already know that they’ve got a man of high character and strong work ethic because they understood just who they were drafting in the sixth round this past May.
Coming out of Indianapolis Ben Davis High School in 2016. He was one of the top 15 running back recruits in the country when he signed with the Michigan Wolverines. He quickly became a star playing in all 13 games as a true freshman rushing for 614 yards on just 88 carries.
He made a name for himself as a reliable back for the Wolverines over the next several years. However, in February of 2019, just before his senior season, he was suspended by the university. According to Evans, it was an academic mistake. He would be kicked out of school, off of the football team and no longer on scholarship for a year.
Most kids would have packed it up and went to the crib. Not Chris Evans though. He humbled himself, took the punishment and never gave up on his dream to finish what he’d started.
His parents told him that he could come home and figure it out but he chose to stay in Ann Arbor. One of the biggest stars on campus decided to get a job delivering pizzas using the salary and tips to make ends meet. He took online classes and worked out consistently. Hold on a second…do you realize how much humility it took for the Big Man On Campus (BMOC) to deliver pizzas when everyone knew that he was suspended from both school and the team?
That in and of itself tells you everything you need to know about the character of Chris Evans. I would bet that 99.99999999999% of kids would have easily taken their parents up on the offer to go to the crib to hide out from the shame of not being on the team at the time. Chris Evans took it like a G and made it to the other side.
He was reinstated for the 2020 season and did enough to get drafted by the Bengals. So now, I beg you to put into context the 12 carries, 25 yards and a touchdown in his debut. He not only created value but he made himself necessary in the running back room. Yep they picked up a stud in the sixth round and I’m quite sure they’re well aware of it. Stop me when I start lyin’!
