What’s Next – Saratoga Springs’ Rodell Evans

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY ( NEWS10 ) — Each week this summer we’re featuring one of the Capital Region’s best student-athletes who just graduated high school on our segment “What’s Next?”. We dive into both what lies ahead, while looking back on their storied careers. It’s a return to Saratoga Springs this week, as we highlight Rodell Evans III.

A three-sport star and a scholar in the classroom, Evans personifies what it means to be a student-athlete. “It’s almost so hard to do what he did that I don’t, you don’t even really believe it,” said Saratoga Springs high school football coach Eric Hayden. “Then you sit there and you wonder, like, ‘How did he do it? When did he do this? How did he have time to keep up with all of it?’ He kind of created a standard for us to hold other kids accountable for, which is kind of awesome.”

Between dazzling on the gridiron, the court and the track, Rodell maintained a 3.9 GPA, earning a number of scholar-athlete awards and scholarships. “It takes a lot of effort,” said Evans. “There’s some sacrifices that’ve got to be made. Sometimes you can’t go out, hang out with friends, or do certain things. At the end of the day, I’m doing it for something that I love to do. I love to play football and I want to play football at the highest level that I can.”

That’s exactly what Rodell will be doing this fall when he begins his first season at Cornell University out of the Ivy League, one of the most prestigious institutions in the nation. “They were the first Division-I team to recruit me; first team to offer me, for sure,” said Evans. “I just kind of felt the love from them the most. When I went on my visit, it’s a beautiful spot. Ithaca’s a really nice city. I’m really excited to be living out there.”

Joining him at Cornell will be former RPI defensive coordinator Jeff Dittman, who’s assuming special teams and defensive assistant duties with the Big Red. He’s very familiar with what Rodell brings to the table as a defensive back. “I actually saw him at multiple camps last summer, trying to get him over to RPI,” said Dittman. “From the jump, off of film, you could see that he was a little bit bigger, faster and stronger at the position he was playing. Then getting to meet him in-person and see him move around, I said, ‘I don’t think we’re gonna be able to get him to RPI. I think he’s going division I.’ The second day on the job I sent him a message and said, ‘Hey, we couldn’t get you at RPI, so I had to follow you to Cornell. We’re super excited about working with you, and can’t wait for the spring, the summer and the fall when you get to join us.'”

Rodell’s commitment to Cornell is the culmination of a dream years in the making. “I’ve always wanted, since I was a kid, wanted to play in college, wanted to play college football,” said Evans. “Looking back on it, it’s crazy just kind of thinking about where I’ve gone and how I’ve developed, kind of as a person and as a player. It’s very interesting to look at, just to see how I’ve gotten better over time because I don’t really notice it day-to-day, or maybe month-to-month. Over the years, the work really shows.”

Few people put in the work that Rodell did. “When the weight room ended, that wasn’t enough,” said Hayden. “I would drive him over to a max-level facility where he would work, then work on his speed training. He would be getting on his bike to go over there, and I’m like, ‘Dude, let me just give you a ride over.’ I’m like, ‘Did you eat yet?’ He’s just so focused. I’m gonna tell you, his discipline and his work level are going to rise above talent of other people, and he will end up on the field. Getting on the field early, it’s gonna be because he’s a ‘Yes sir, yes coach’ kid. He’ll do whatever. By that senior or junior year, he’s gonna be an all-league kid just because of work ethic.”

As Rodell trades in a blue “S” for a red “C”, he leaves behind a legacy that’s larger than life. “Our youth camp, you mention Rodell’s name, they look at him like he’s god,” said Hayden. “Now, he’s going to become that college player that, some of them can turn the tv on and watch. Or, now he’s going to be that guy who comes back, and he’s speaking at our camps, and their eyes are going to open. That’s big, man. That’s someone who’s doing something big, and our community looks up to him for that.”

“I’ll always be prideful to be a Saratoga Blue Streak,” said Evans. “It’s in the blood now. You spend four years at a place, you meet people. That’s family. With our class leaving, we set a little bit of a groundwork for the new guys coming in, because they’ve got some talented players coming in. I like to think that we were leaders and we taught them some stuff that they can take on for the next couple years. I’ll always be proud of playing there, and proud of those guys coming up.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NEWS10 ABC.