There will be many opportunities for open-field tackles by the University of Cincinnati in the Motor City Bowl, given the creativity and talent of Marshall's offense. Fans can expect to see a lot of the number “48” and hear a lot of the name “Evans.”

        That would be Troy Evans, who until his senior year at Lakota High School thought basketball would be his ticket to college. By the time he changed his mind, he had to “walk on” to the UC football team because no scholarships were available.

        Not bad for a guy who led UC with 107 tackles this season. He's one of UC's senior co-captains.

        He's a second-team all-Conference USA linebacker.

        “This bowl is very definitely the highlight of my college career, because I didn't get to play in the last one (Humanitarian Bowl in 1997) even though I had to practice,” he said. “I had to sit out my first year because I'd transfered from a small I-AA school in South Carolina.”

        Evans has pent-up emotion from not getting to play in that last bowl game. He's known for being ultra-aggressive with a knack for the big hit.

        “We seniors got together (before the year) and said, "We're not going to go out as losers,'” Evans said. “This (the bowl) is what we've been working for with all those summers of lifting and running and all the work in practice.”

        Evans was all-state in basketball (shooting guard) and football (he played safety on defense, slotback on offense). He said he can still shoot “a little bit,” although the 48 pounds he has added since high school (195 to 243) have resulted in “some loss of range of motion.”

        Translated: Evans is packing some serious muscle mass.

        Why did he switch from basketball to football?

        “I fell in love with it,” he said. “I'd had a good junior year in basketball, but when we (Lakota) did so well in football my senior year — we played in front of 15,000 people — I felt my future looked better in football. It was the right decision.”

        It's the hand-eye coordination and athleticism of the UC defenders — and the attacking style taught by UC defensive coordinator Rick Smith — that has UC ranked fourth nationally in turnovers gained (34).

        UC is the only team in the country ranked in the top 10 in fumbles recovered (ninth with 15) and interceptions (eighth with 19). Evans had two interceptions (43 yards) and three fumble recoveries. His performances in two UC victories were big: 11 tackles (two for losses) against Syracuse and 13 tackles (including a ball-stripping that led to a UC touchdown) against Southern Miss.

        “Our team is very close,” he said. “We won't be spending Christmas with our families, but we'll be with our football family (in Detroit). It's all part of the experience. It's a great feeling — especially when you're a senior.”

UC 88, Clemson 80 UC first test for 9-0 Alabama LB Evans a big hit for UC

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