Evanston football enters the season with a brand new head coach, a new starting lineup, a fresh mindset, and a culture shift, but they’re missing one thing: a starting quarterback.
Head Coach Miles Osei has been clear about where things stand: “From a progression standpoint, from where we were at the beginning of summer to now, we’ve definitely seen some progress, both in the quarterbacks and as a team,” Osei said. “It’s still a competition. I anticipate it to be a competition throughout the season.”
In early August, Osei told the RoundTable, “You might see one guy starting week 1, another guy starting weeks 2 through 4 and still another guy starting weeks 5-6-7…I think it will be a constant battle throughout the season. All three kids have done a good job in some regard, but I don’t think there’s a clear-cut winner right now.”
Osei holds true to this over a month later.
The three challengers, senior Jake Everds, junior Amare Jones, and sophomore T.J.
Gant, have all shown flashes that could earn them the role as QB1. Osei believes that the decision will ultimately come down to the consistency and leadership displayed by a player.
“The biggest thing is finding a clear-cut kid that wants to take the leadership position and take it over,” explained Osei.
Jake Everds is the most experienced of the three contenders. However, last season he saw little action, playing as the third-string quarterback and only seeing the field when the game was no longer competitive. During the regular season, however, his reps with the first team have increased.
“Over summer camp, it wasn’t going well; I was getting little to no reps,” Everds admitted. “But now I’m getting the most reps with the first team.”
Off the field, Everds has impressed coaches with his preparation.
He has been doing “everything off the field that we’re looking for in terms of accountability, watching film, and asking questions,” praised Osei.
Everds himself knows the importance of his stability off the field, “It’s beneficial to have a steady one [quarterback],” he said. “Your quarterback is your team leader.”
Amare Jones has grown into a natural leader on the team, showing undeniable athleticism and maturity throughout camp. Osei believes he is “super capable,” with the “natural ability to be a leader.” The juniors’ development over the past year has put him into solid contention.
Just a year ago, sophomore T.J. Gant was running the freshman offense. Now, he’s competing against upperclassmen for varsity playing time. Osei noted that Gant has the “strongest arm in our program,” but is still adjusting to the speed and timing of varsity game play.
Gant also recognizes his progress, “Last year I wasn’t really that good… this year I feel like I’ve been able to show my skills to varsity.”
The season opener against Niles North showed just how unsettled the quarterback picture still is. Evanston attempted only three passes in the 49-6 win, meaning each quarterback had nearly equal time with the ball. The game gave no insight as to who is favored in the race.
During the September 5th game the Kits set a record of 7 turnovers in one game – five fumbles and two interceptions – in a 37-21 non-conference loss to St. Lawrence. Everds and Jones struggled in center, dropping snaps and stalling drives, ultimately keeping defense on the field for most of the night. While Everds had the most playing time, his performance did not stand out and did not seem to set him ahead in any way.
While the quarterback decision remains open, Osei emphasises that the rest of the team must focus on their growth and execution regardless of who is under center. “The rest of the team has to do their job and do it well, so we’re not going to change what we do from a player standpoint based on who’s in that position,” he said.
Despite the competitive environment this has created for the three, Osei sees the quarterbacks pushing each other in the right ways.
“They work with each other every day,” he said. “Each kid has progressed in their own way.”
With or without a QB, the team has confidence that coach Osei is taking them in the right direction.
“We have a team that wants to work hard and wants to win, and I think that will make a big difference. Coach Osei wants to change the program, and I think he’s going to,” stated Edverds.
As Evanston continues with the season the quarterback question lingers, but Osei’s message remains clear: Evanston’s success won’t hinge on just one player. With the three contenders still battling for the spot and the rest of the team buying into a new culture, the Kits season will ultimately be defined by their collective growth rather than who’s at center.
