Tide teammates Evans, Howard to meet in NFL preseason

Duane Rankin | Montgomery Advertiser

Show Caption Hide Caption Howard, Evans ready to battle in 2018 NFL preseason Once teammates at Alabama, Tampa Bay tight end O.J. Howard and Tennessee Titans rookie linebacker Rashaan Evans talk about facing each other Week 2 of the 2018 NFL preseason.

They’ll both tell you the same thing.

Tennessee Titans rookie linebacker Rashaan Evans and second-year Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard say they got the better of each other in practice at Alabama.

“Obviously, I’m going to say me,” Evans said. “That’s just my competitive side. Obviously, I’m going to say me. O.J. will say the same thing.”

Yep.

“Oh, I won,” Howard said Saturday at his ‘Got Da Juice’ football camp in Prattville. “There’s no question who won. Rashaan’s got great speed, but it’s different covering a tight end with speed like this.”

Howard returns home for football camp Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard talks Saturday about his football camp at his high school alma mater, Autauga Academy.

More: Former Alabama LB Evans learning in Titans' minicamp

The first-round picks can start settling this on the NFL level Week 2 of the upcoming preseason when Tampa Bay plays at Tennessee.

“It should be fun,” Howard added.

Evans will see plenty of familiar faces in the National Football League.

Looking at ESPN’s database, Alabama currently has 61 players on NFL rosters. With that much Tide in the league, Evans is bound to play against a former college teammate on multiple occasions this season.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Evans said. “These are the guys that you were working out with. Had blood, sweat and tears with. Now you’re playing against them. It’s going to be fun. I’m a guy that loves change. To be able to do something like that will add even more memories.”

Evans is already doing that in camp with Titans third-year running back Derrick Henry. He’ll see fellow rookie JK Scott in Week 1 of the NFL preseason when Tennessee plays at Green Bay.

The following week, Evans will likely at some point have to cover Howard.

“We’re competitive guys,” Evans said. “That’s what makes us so great. I’m looking forward to going against him in games. It just makes me better because I know I’ll be facing him throughout my career.”

Current Alabama players in NFL (via ESPN)