Darrynton Evans Bio
Darrynton L.A. Evans is an American professional football running back and return specialist. He played college football for the Appalachian State Mountaineers and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. Evans had a successful college career where he was recognized as the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. He has played for several NFL teams including the Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, and Miami Dolphins. In addition to his on-field achievements, he is also known for his engaging social media presence under the ItzLiveee brand.
Early Life and Background
Darrynton L.A. Evans was born on July 9, 1998, in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. He grew up in the same coastal region of central Florida that produced many of the state’s most determined young football prospects. He attended New Smyrna Beach High School in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where he developed the speed and elusiveness that would later define his professional profile.
At New Smyrna Beach, Evans established himself as a multipurpose weapon in the offensive and special teams schemes. He contributed as a running back, receiver, and returner, showing the same versatility that would later attract NFL scouts. His high school performance laid the foundation for a college recruitment process that led him to commit to Appalachian State University.
Path to American Football
Evans committed to Appalachian State University to play college football, joining a Mountaineers program with a strong reputation for developing talent. As a true freshman in 2016, he played in 12 games, rushing for 217 yards on 48 carries while also returning 25 kicks for 563 yards and a touchdown. His freshman production offered an early glimpse of the playmaking ability that would later headline his college résumé.
Evans missed the 2017 season due to injury and redshirted that year, a setback he used to refine his conditioning and route running. Returning in 2018, he entered the season as a backup to Jalin Moore, then took over as the starter after Moore suffered a season-ending injury. He rushed for 1,187 yards on 179 carries and seven touchdowns, and was named the MVP of the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game after totaling 218 all-purpose yards. In 2019, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,480 yards and 2,064 all-purpose yards with 24 total touchdowns, and earned MVP honors in both the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game and the 2019 New Orleans Bowl.
Darrynton Evans Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Darrynton L.A. Evans was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 93rd overall pick in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was placed on injured reserve on October 15, 2020, with a hamstring injury, and was activated on December 7, 2020. In Week 15 against the Detroit Lions, he recorded 57 yards from scrimmage and a receiving touchdown during a 46–25 win, scoring his first career touchdown.
Evans finished the 2020 regular season playing in five games with 14 rushes for 54 yards, two receptions for 27 yards and a receiving touchdown, and nine kickoff returns for 206 yards while serving as a backup to rushing leader Derrick Henry. He recorded one carry for one yard in the Titans’ 20–13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the wildcard round of the playoffs. He was placed on injured reserve on September 2, 2021, activated on October 23, and returned to injured reserve on October 29, 2021, ending his second NFL season before he was waived by the Titans on March 10, 2022.
NFL Journeyman Phase (2022–2023)
On March 11, 2022, Evans was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears. He was waived on August 30, 2022, signed to the practice squad the next day, and promoted to the active roster on November 27. On March 31, 2023, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts, who waived him on May 2, 2023. On July 25, 2023, Evans signed with the Buffalo Bills and was released on August 29, 2023, before joining the Miami Dolphins practice squad on August 31, 2023.
On October 9, 2023, Evans was signed by the Chicago Bears off the Dolphins practice squad, then waived on November 16. He was signed back to the Dolphins practice squad on November 21, 2023, and elevated to the active roster on November 23, 2023, finishing the year without a reserve/future contract. The run of short-term moves illustrated his value as a versatile special teams and running back depth piece.
Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears Returns (2024)
On January 23, 2024, Evans signed a reserve/future contract with the Buffalo Bills. He was placed on injured reserve on August 27 and released on October 29, 2024. On November 6, 2024, he was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad, then promoted to the active roster on December 21, 2024. His fourth NFL season reflected the journeyman role he had settled into across multiple franchises.
2025 Season
On March 13, 2025, Evans signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, marking his third stint with the organization. He was placed on injured reserve on August 19, and was later released. Evans continues to pursue roster opportunities while maintaining a strong social media presence on his ItzLiveee platforms.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although Evans is a football player rather than a driver, his on-field profile shows clear strengths in open-field running, kickoff returning, and pass-catching versatility out of the backfield. He has shown the acceleration and vision to operate as a change-of-pace back behind a featured lead runner, and his special teams background gives coaches flexibility in third-down and field position packages.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Evans’ career include his Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year award in 2019, his MVP honors in the 2018 and 2019 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Games, and his first NFL touchdown against the Detroit Lions in December 2020. The recurring theme across his career has been his ability to contribute in multiple roles, from feature back in college to specialist and complementary runner in the pros.
Darrynton Evans Career Wins
As a running back and return specialist, Evans has built his professional reputation less on headline win totals and more on situational production, special teams value, and depth contributions. His decorated college résumé, including conference MVP honors and the 2019 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year award, remains the statistical foundation of his career resume.
College Awards Highlights
Evans was a two-time First-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2018 and 2019, was named the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and earned MVP honors in the 2018 and 2019 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Games as well as the 2019 New Orleans Bowl. These honors summarize a college career that featured more than 2,800 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns in his final two seasons.
Other Performances
At the NFL level, Evans has delivered steady kick return production and change-of-pace backfield play for multiple organizations, including the Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. His career NFL totals through 2024 include 249 rushing yards on 65 attempts with one rushing touchdown, 12 receptions for 120 yards and one receiving touchdown, and 223 return yards.
Darrynton Evans Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public biographical details about Evans’ parents and extended family have not been widely reported in verifiable sources, and this section is limited to information supported by the available record.
Personal Life
Evans is a Christian and is married to Aiyana Willoughby. He also runs a YouTube and Twitch channel under the ItzLiveee brand, where he shares lifestyle and gaming content with his audience. His online presence has helped him build a personal brand that extends beyond his on-field football career.
2025 Season Performance
Evans entered 2025 as a member of the Buffalo Bills after signing a one-year contract on March 13, 2025. He was placed on injured reserve on August 19 and was later released, leaving his roster status for the remainder of the season uncertain as he looked for a new opportunity.
Given his history of moving between practice squads and active rosters, Evans remained a candidate to contribute as a depth running back or return specialist wherever he landed next. His experience in special teams packages and his pass-catching ability out of the backfield continued to be his primary selling points for teams in need of a versatile backfield piece.
Looking ahead, Evans’ combination of return skills, receiving upside, and familiarity with multiple offensive systems positioned him as a depth option for contenders seeking late-season backfield help. The 2025 campaign remained a work in progress, with his next stop likely to be shaped by injury situations around the league.