On the football field, Zack Evans is a beast; off it, he says he’s a big cuddly teddy bear.

OK, Zack, we’ll take your word on that one. At 6-foot-4, 295 lbs, he’s become one of the CFL’s top Canadian defensive linemen. Plucked from his hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders in the expansion draft, Evans has made steady progression — he gives to credit to defensive line coach Leroy Blugh. In a rotation at defensive tackle with Keith Shologan, Evans had seven sacks in 2015. As a go-to guy this season, Evans, who is still just 26, has six sacks. No question, his future is bright.

He’s also excelling at being a dad. Evans and his wife Jenna have a 21-month-old boy, Zander.

Oh, and he says he’s a “weird fact man.”

“I’m a history buff so I know a lot of stuff,” he said. “I would go back to the Roman Era. I know how to forge steel. I understand battle tactics. I look back to the Spartans, working as one phalanx, it kind of relates to football.”

Here’s a Q and A with the Redblacks defensive lineman:

What do you do away from the field?

Evans: I play with my son a lot. I take him out to play in the parks, at the waterparks. We go on the seesaw … I get my squat workout in.

Are you a video gamer?

No. I don’t want to ruin my brain any more than I already have. I watch a little bit of TV, kids stuff like Bubble Guppies.

What movies do you watch?

Back in the day, I used to get 100 VHS tapes and watch them over and over. I watch fantasy, real action, drama, documentaries. 300. I’m a big Star Wars fan, I don’t like the new stuff, I like the old Star Wars. I’m a big Lord of the Rings guy.

What’s the best Star Wars movie?

Return of the Jedi.

What’s the best Lord of the Rings movie and who’s your favourite character?

Return of the King. I like Gandalf, he’s bad ass, he can do anything and he’s kind of immortal.

What’s the last documentary you watched?

Interview with a Murderer. It was sick stuff.

What TV shows do you watch?

Spartacus ... Game of Thrones I watch like crazy.

Who’s the next Game of Thrones character to die?

Everyone’s going to die. Seriously ... everyone.

If you could be a superhero, which one would you be?

Superman. He can’t lose.

How did you start playing football?

My dad played for the University of Regina Rams for four years, won two national championships. He went to the Riders, played there and broke his back in three places. I said I wanted to be better than he was. I became a professional football player and I’ve won a Grey Cup.

Were you always the biggest kid in class?

Yes, by far.

You weren’t a bully, were you?

No. Never. I was soft hearted. I’m a big cuddly teddy bear on the inside.

How have you progressed in three years in Ottawa?

It’s all on my D-line coach, Leroy Blugh. He’s really taken me under his wing and taught me how to be a good football player. I’m 26, but where I’m at right now, I feel like I’m 35. I feel like the game has slowed down. I understand offences, I understand defences better. I’m the seventh O-lineman. I know the game a lot better so it helps me on the field.

Any fears?

Snakes. Definitely afraid of snakes. Every snake. My wife’s afraid of snakes, too. Spiders are cool, anything that crawls is cool. The slither, it’s scary to me. I’ve seen too many Man vs. Wild Bear Grylls stuff where he picks up a Black Mamba and you’re like, ‘That thing will kill you.’ No. I’m good.

What’s the locker-room culture like here?

It’s fun. Everyone likes each other. There’s no butting heads, there aren’t many confrontations. In the end, we all have each other’s backs. We feel like we’re a family. It feels like last year, we had a great family dynamic and that took us really far. I feel like we have the same recipe brewing right now.

What’s fatherhood been like for you?

It’s really hard. Thankfully I have my wife who does absolutely everything. If not, I wouldn’t be here — to be able to come to football practice and not have to worry about what’s happening at home. My wife is amazing.

Do you think about politics, Canadian or American?

I stay away from that. I make fun of a lot of Americans, just to bug them because I’m Canadian … I love it.

Whar music do you listen to?

I used to be a country guy, I listened to classical, I used to listen to R and B … it’s mixed. AC/DC is No. 1, for sure. I’ve been to two of their concerts. I’m not a headbanger, but I just love their music. Back in Black is my favourite by far.

Who’s your favourite actor?

The Rock. Dwayne Johnson. I will watch every single movie of his. He’s my man crush. I would love to be The Rock.

Any other actors you like?

Maybe Bradley Cooper. He’s funny and smart. Hangover and stuff like that … I like those movies.

Who’s the funniest guy in the locker room?

EJack. Ernest Jackson. Uncle Ernie, that old man. He could make anybody laugh. He’s funny as hell. He’s goofy in a funny way. He doesn’t step on anyone’s toes, everybody loves him and he just likes screwing with people.

What are you going to do post-football?

I’ve worked in an oil refinery for the past eight years, working heavy machinery. I’m also a firefighter at the refinery so I could get my certificate and become a firefighter.

THE WORD GAME

Here we go — a little word-association game. First thing that pops into your mind, Zack ...

DONALD TRUMP

Evans: Not good

JUSTIN BIEBER

Bad to be Canadian

TOM BRADY

Hell of a quarterback

CFL

The best league

RATTLESNAKE

Scary as hell