Michigan recruit Evan Link鈥檚 journey to coveted O-lineman
WASHINGTON (BVM) — Evan Link is one of the best offensive line prospects in the entire country. According to , he is the No. 26 prep tackle in the nation and one of the very best players in the Washington D.C. area.聽
But before Link became so coveted on the recruiting trail at Gonzaga College High School, he was just a kid with a relentless passion for the game of football.
It was the car rides to practice with his dad. It was the desire to get better with every single rep. It was seeing how the game of football can bring so many individuals together as one to form a team.
This is where Link found his football identity and knew it was something he would want to do for a long time.
鈥淚 had a great time doing that,鈥� Link said. 鈥淚 was falling in love with going to practice, getting better, learning new things, making mistakes and then learning from them.鈥�
The 6-foot-6, 290-pound senior has been an offensive lineman since the start of his football career in fifth grade, outside of his eighth-grade year where he had a short stint at quarterback. But when he transitioned back to the line at the start of high school, it just felt like it was his natural home on the football field.
While a lineman does not receive the love that a quarterback or a dynamic playmaker would, their role is just as critical as anyone on any given play.
In order for a play to work as designed, every player has to perform the task that they are supposed to, starting with the five up front.
鈥淵our block matters,鈥� Link said. 鈥淲hat you do can help create a cutback lane or a hole for the running back to begin with. Every play I can help my team.鈥�
Over the years, Link has helped his team a lot.
That is why he had the opportunity to choose between a plethora of Division I offers and ultimately committed to the University of Michigan in August.
https://twitter.com/evan_link_/status/1554116503695507463
鈥淚 was looking for a school where I could get a degree that I strongly believed in,鈥� Link said. 鈥淢ichigan was that great combination of being able to play some really good football while also getting a really good degree.鈥�
While trying to decide on a school, Link experienced the oddity of what the recruiting world actually is. Being a 16-year-old or 17-year-old kid that is trying to decide their future while being coveted by universities all across the country.
It is always a positive to be in that situation, but there is stress that comes along with it. But Link was able to adjust easily to these new experiences thanks to the help of his surrounding peers.
鈥淚 just got used to it more and more,鈥� Link said. 鈥淚 sort of realized this is what I鈥檓 going towards. If I wanted to play in college, that would be the type of stuff I鈥檇 have to get used to. My friends did a great job of helping. Whenever we hang out, we never really talk about football.鈥�
He also had help from some of his older teammates. One being Penn State left tackle and Olu Fashanu.
Fashanu was the starting blindside blocker for Gonzaga prior to Link. During their time together, Link was able to view his pure technique and his professional approach to the game first-hand.
鈥淛ust watching him play was a great experience,鈥� Link said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a really good player and a really good person. Just to see how he handled situations and how he played was a great experience for me.鈥�
Similarly to on the football field, Link aspires to have the same type of success in the classroom that Fashanu has had. Fashanu received Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2021 and Link hopes to do the same, as well as Academic All-American honors.
As far as his long-term football goals, he is keeping it simple. Link just wants to be the best he can be on the football field and off during his time in Ann Arbor. And if the opportunity arises to continue his career beyond that, it would be something he would be grateful for.
But Link is not playing the game solely for a chance to play in the NFL. He is playing it because that鈥檚 what he loves to do.
With his collegiate career right around the corner, that same kid who would enjoy all of the car rides to practice will get the opportunity to make a name for himself on a national level.
