247Sports recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong has been around the block a time or two, but when reflecting on the ongoing saga that has been Zachary Evans' recruitment, Wiltfong isn't certain he's ever seen something like this.

"It's an all-timer," he says.

There are always one or two wild recruitments each cycle. That’s expected. Recruiting is an unpredictable process that mixes together 16- and 17-year-old kids with fame, alpha-male recruiters and the interests and desires of a dozen or so other parties.

But few recruitments have ever matched the insanity of this one.

Evans ranks as the No. 16 overall player in the country and the No. 2 running back, according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s a dynamic prospect who has been compared to Adrian Peterson in the Lone Star State. Evans is also rather complicated. He’s had documented off-field issues at North Shore High School – he was suspended for the state championship game – and has vexed college staffs to the point where some schools have taken him off their board.

Ironically, given all the hoopla around his recruitment, Evans has never actually committed publicly to any one school. But he’s been strongly linked to many programs and signed with another, Georgia, during the Early Signing Period. To recap what’s occurred to this point, 247Sports pieced Evans’ recruitment together into a timeline. Perhaps it's a futile exercise: This thing might still have a ways to go, and since Evans has already signed and gotten out of a LOI, he won't officially be a part of whatever program he chooses until he shows up on campus and enrolls. But before we get there, let’s leave you with an Evans quote that might somewhat explain his recruiting process to this point.

“I’m just playing the recruiting game with them.”

Evans Drops A Top 5, Excludes Texas Schools – May 28, 2019

I visited Evans at North Shore High School on May 28 for an extensive feature on the then-No. 1 overall prospect in the 2020 class. At that time, Evans was considered a Texas lean. Then Evans let 247Sports in on a secret about his top five that would be released later that day: “There are no Texas schools. It’s going to be crazy.”

Evans’ top five featured Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and Oklahoma.

The oddest part of that list? Ohio State and Oklahoma weren’t really recruiting Evans at that time. That’s just a window into the eventual madness.

Evans Visits Alabama – June 3, 2019

Alabama looked like the likely destination for Evans. His high school teammate and good friend, Damieon George, was committed to the Tide. They’d talked about each other as a “package deal” throughout their recruitments.

This would be the peak of the Evans-to-Bama momentum. Alabama eventually backed off Evans.

Evans Visits Texas, Texas A&M – June 20, 22, 2019

So much for that top five. Evans and Texas tried to keep the visit quiet, but it didn’t take long for the internet to buzz about Evans’ visit to Austin. Two days later, Evans made the short drive to College Station.

Evans said of Texas less than a month before: “I ain’t saying Texas can’t win a natty. It’s just as the moment (Texas is) not quite there.” Texas would never really get back into Evans' recruitment despite the visit. The Longhorns ended up landing Bijan Robinson, the No. 1 overall back in the 2020 cycle.

Disciplinary Issues Keep Evans Off the Field – Aug. 29, 2019

Evans missed the second and third games of his senior year for what the Houston Chronicle termed as “disciplinary issues.” He returned in Week 4 on Sept. 27 and rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries.

Evans Delays His Commitment – Sept. 5, 2019

Evans never went public with the proclamation, but he planned to announce his commitment in early September to honor his recently deceased grandfather. For one reason or another – likely the suspension – Evans delayed the announcement. Multiple sources tell 247Sports Evans was set to pick Georgia.

LSU Earns Evans’ First Official Visit – Oct. 26, 2019

Sorting through Evans’ leaders during the fall was a maddening process. But one team stayed near the top throughout: LSU. The Tigers were one of the hottest teams in the country offensively, and Evans visited Baton Rouge several times throughout his recruitment.

Evans Officially Visits Texas A&M – Nov. 15, 2019

Nobody has hung around Evans’ recruitment quite like Texas A&M. The Aggies have always remained in the mix, and they earned an official visit in November. Texas A&M, which is in need of running back help, has made Evans a priority.

Evans Announces A Commitment Date – Dec. 1, 2019

The North Shore running back declared he would pick between four finalists on Dec. 4: Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M.

LSU Takes the Lead – Dec. 3, 2019

The 247Sports Crystal ball swung many directions during Evans’ recruitment. It started out heavily in favor of Texas during Evans’ junior year of high school. Texas A&M took the lead before he dropped his top five. Alabama held a commanding lead after George committed to the Tide. Georgia also had its turn at the top.

But LSU snatched the momentum ahead of Evans’ planned commitment. Here’s Wiltfong on his then Crystal Ball pick for the Tigers: “All signs point to Ed Orgeron and his staff winning out. … if Evans goes through with his plan to decide.” 247Sports' video team prepared multiple 'Evans to LSU' assets ready to fire off.

Evans Delays His Commitment – Dec. 4, 2019

Evans did not go through with his plan. He delayed his pick to Jan. 2 at the Under Armour All-America Game. Evans said he delayed his announcement in order to avoid being a distraction for North Shore, which was in the middle of a state playoff run.

“I was being unfair and selfish because of the round we’re in,” Evans said.

Evans Misses Half of State Semifinal to Take ACT – Dec. 14, 2019

Evans finished with 176 yards and two touchdowns in North Shore’s semifinal win over Austin-area powerhouse Lake Travis. Those numbers are all the more impressive when you consider he saw just two first-half snaps because he spent most of the morning taking the ACT.

Georgia Picks Up Momentum – Dec. 20 2019

College football’s Early Signing Period ran from Dec. 18-20. Evans wasn’t supposed to participate given his announcement schedule at Under Armour. But it wouldn’t be a major recruiting event without Evans playing a part.

Dawgs247 reported that Friday that Evans to Georgia “is a done deal.” So much for LSU.

Evans Sent Home Before State Title Game – Dec. 21, 2019

Hours ahead of a highly-anticipated state championship rematch between Duncanville High School and North Shore High School – deemed Dallas vs. Houston in the Lone Star State – news broke Evans would miss the game because he’d been sent home. Evans reportedly refused to give up his cell phone the night before the championship, breaking a team policy.

Evans Announces He Signed During the ESP – Dec. 28, 2019

"I officially signed," Evans said. "I am enrolling early as well. I feel good. There is a lot of pressure off my chest now. Just knowing I have to leave my family was tough, but I have known where I was going for a while, I just had to take official visits to make sure."

Sources told 247Sports Evans signed with Georgia despite never taking an official visit to the school.

Evans Delays His Announcement – Jan. 2, 2020

Evans decided not to announce his commitment during the Under Armour All-America Game. Instead, he provided an apology to “his college coaches” saying, “I made some stupid decisions and I’m ready to compete at the next level.”

Georgia Lets Evans Out of His NLI – Jan. 7, 2020

Sources told 247Sports that Georgia gave Evans an “unconditional release” from his National Letter of Intent. Evans had been looking to get out of his LOI. Players are only allowed to sign one NLI per cycle, which means whoever Evans commits to next will have nothing officially tying the running back to that program.

Evans planned to be an early enrollee. But that seems highly unlikely at this point on the calendar.

New Schools Enter the Picture – Jan. 16, 2020

Things are never slow with Evans, and few other schools jumped into the recruitment with the news of Georgia and Evans parting ways. Wiltfong, 247Sports’ Director of Recruiting, reported Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee entered the picture after Evans backed out of his NLI.

Evans Visits Ole Miss – Jan. 17, 2020

Evans took an official visit to Oxford the weekend of Jan. 17. The Rebels started to push for Evans once Lane Kiffin took over as head coach.

Evans Visits Tennessee – Jan 24, 2020

Evans took his fourth official visit to Tennessee. The Vols hosted Evans briefly in January of 2019 ahead of a trip to Georgia, but they hadn’t really been involved in his recruitment. Tight ends coach and ace recruiter Brian Niedermeyer made an in-home visit with Evans on Jan. 21.

Georgia Back in the Mix? — Jan. 27, 2020

The Bulldogs weren't expected to still be in the mix for Evans after the two parted ways amicably, but lo and behold, there still was plenty of Georgia buzz even headed into this week. Wiltfong begrudgingly gave UGA an edge in a predictions piece for the website, while also cautioning the school could back off. That's exactly what happened Jan. 30, when Georgia took the pledge of another class of 2020 running back, essentially (we think?) slamming the door on any Evans-to-Georgia momentum.

The Latest – Jan. 30, 2020

Evans’ recruitment is far from done. Unlike other players who will sign LOIs on National Signing Day, Evans can stretch his process into the summer when he decides to show up for classes. Evans, who has already graduated high school, is sort of floating in a neutral zone right now. There's no telling when he'll announce.

Here’s Wiltfong with the latest:

“The recruitment of Houston (Texas) North Shore five-star running back Zachary Evans has seen Ole Miss and Tennessee pushing down the stretch. Texas A&M has been considered hot and cold in this recruitment. Maybe they get hot again. Contact is still there and a source thinks they could still land him."

USC has been mentioned as potential place for Evans to visit ahead of the dead period. But Wilftong reported that the Trojans are focused on "trying to win the recruitment of four-star all-purpose back Michael Drennen II."