The breakout college football season Gavin Everett has waited three years to experience could be starting soon.
Everett, a strongside defensive end at Indiana, hopes to have a starting role by the time the Hoosiers open their season at Florida International on Sept. 1.
In April, Everett, who at 6-foot-3, 260 pounds is 35 heavier than when he last played at Center Grove in 2014, was named most improved defensive player following the annual Cream & Crimson Game.
He completed spring practices on the first-team defense.
“Mainly, Gavin is just a hard-nosed kid who works his tail off. He’s made himself a player,” Indiana coach Tom Allen said. “He’s tough, smart, and that’s something you can’t put a price on.
“Another thing about Gavin is he’s just so coachable. That’s one reason why he’s in the position he’s in right now.”
A strong belief in himself is another. Everett’s path to Indiana was unconventional, and a testament to his unwavering confidence.
Despite recording 32 tackles and nine sacks as a senior on one of the state’s premier high school teams, Everett received minimal interest from colleges.
Western Illinois offered him a scholarship, as did Marian. Everett went to WIU, a Division I Football Championship Subdivision program in Macomb, Illinois, where he was told he would be redshirting. He transferred, and by January he was taking classes at Indiana with aspirations of walking on to the football team in the spring.
“My parents were kind of shocked, but they were happy I was coming home,” Everett said. “They’ve always been supportive of everything I’ve wanted to do. I felt like there was something calling me here.”
Doubters existed. After all, if Everett was going to be redshirted at Western Illinois, what were the chances he could make himself a valued contributor for a Big Ten defense?
Looking back, he said the skepticism drove him.
“I love when people tell me I can’t do something. Through mutual people, you hear, ‘Oh, he’ll never see the field.’ I’m very thankful, honestly, that those words were said,” Everett said. “Up to that point I had been able to accomplish something if I set my mind to it. This was no different.”
Everett didn’t play a down at Western Illinois, but the timing of the transfer, coupled with another redshirt season at Indiana, made it so had three seasons (2017-19) to make an impact.
He sat out the 2016 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but was twice tabbed as the Hoosiers’ scout team player of the week going into games against Northwestern and Penn State. Finally able to play last season, Everett made a total of seven tackles.
His best game, at least statistically, was the 31-24 Old Oaken Bucket loss at Purdue with two tackles and a forced fumble.
Everett is one of four former Center Grove players on the Indiana roster, joining holder and backup punter Drew Conrad, quarterback Jack Kellams and placekicker Nathanael Snyder. None are currently on scholarship.
A rangy defensive end in high school, Everett’s strength was being quicker than the players attempting to block him. He now relies on his power to shed blocks and wreak havoc along the line of scrimmage.
While his body and his game may have change, one thing that hasn’t is Everett’s desire to be a starter this season.
“Being on the first team is very important to me, but I want to win as a team,” Everett said. “If my role is to be the second guy, I’ll do the best I can, but I strive to be the starter. What separates me right now is the effort. Our coaches know they’re going to get that from me every play.”
