When Mike Evans stated that his Bucs colleague and quarterback Baker Mayfield has a game similar to this other quarterback, he was referring to a different person. Mike Evans has played with a number of quarterbacks over his career, including Mike Glennon, Josh McCown, Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
However, this may have been the first time he actually compared two of his former quarterbacks, let alone said their games were identical.
The comparison Mike Evans made to Mayfield was shocking, but it makes sense after hearing his explanation.
Evans recently appeared on the Texas A&M show TexAgs to promote a golf event benefiting the Mike Evans Family Foundation, which is taking place near his Alma Mater.
After talking about the Aggies and the College Station region, Mike Evans was questioned about his connection with Mayfield after a season together. Evans went on to remark that Mayfield’s game was similar to that of Johnny Manziel, a fellow Heisman Trophy winner and Evans’ college teammate.
“Baker, he surprised me a lot,” Mike Evans explained. “Regardless of his talent, I knew he was a great player because of his leadership and teamwork skills. He astonished me a lot. In terms of playing style, he is akin to Johnny Manziel. I mean, quite similar. So it was simple to tweak and play with him.
“A shorter quarterback. Great athlete. Throws like a baseball player, with a pretty tight spiral. Very good arm. Improvise; you can do it all. Super tough. So I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do this year.”
Mike Evans Helped Each QB’s Career
Nobody in the world would have a greater direct knowledge of Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel than Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans. Mayfield stands 6-foot-1, while Manziel is 6-foot. Their ability to rocket a ball down the field or turn a chaotic situation into a tremendous gain on the ground or in the air is also pretty remarkable.
Manziel was one of the most exciting quarterbacks to ever compete in college football. He earned the nickname “Johnny Football” while at Texas A&M, and during the height of his career, he sparked tremendous excitement in terms of popularity and media coverage.
During his 2012 Heisman-winning season, Manziel threw for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 1,410 yards and 21 scores. Mike Evans was a key component of that successful season, with 82 receptions for 1,105 yards and five touchdowns.
The most memorable game of the season was when Manziel and Evans went on the road and upset top-ranked Alabama 31-24. Manziel played two years with the Cleveland Browns as a former first-round pick, but additional troubles arose, and he was released in the spring before his third season.
Oklahoma won the Big XII Championship and qualified for the College Football Playoffs, but lost to Georgia in double overtime, 54-48, in an amazing game at the Rose Bowl.
Mike Evans, who joined the Bucs last season, was instrumental in Mayfield’s career revival. Mike Evans set the tone for Mayfield’s 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, as he led the Bucs in receiving with 1,255 yards and a league-high 13 touchdowns. Mayfield was able to quickly establish himself in the Tampa Bay locker room, and his relationship with Evans was no exception.
With each player re-signing on a new contract this offseason, another year of chemistry between the two opens up a lot of enthusiasm and expectations for what they may do in year two together.
