CHARLOTTE — One year changed Mitchell Evans's career forever. The high school quarterback was a backup during his sophomore year, with plans to take over the starting job after the incumbent graduated. But a back injury kept him from going under center as a junior.

"I couldn't twist, and it hurt to like to rotate my hips," Evans explained Saturday night. "So, my high school coach and I had a discussion of, like, I could still move, so I need to get on the field, so we just made the pivot to a tight end cause I was pretty big compared to other people, put me there."

That junior season, Evans first as a tight end, he pulled in 19 receptions for 306 yards and seven touchdowns. As a senior, Wadsworth High School needed Evans back at quarterback, and he threw for 2,145 yards and 23 touchdowns.

But his season as a tight end made an impact. He was good, good enough to play at the next level, so while quarterbacking his team, he also began to plan for the future.

"Made a great highlight tape. I made it myself on Hudl, which was great," laughed Evans. "And then, I was good enough to get recruited, and I got recruited based on that highlight tape and year. So the plan was always to play tight end at the next level and going into college."

It paid off, as Evans went to Notre Dame, spent four years with the Fighting Irish, and was drafted Saturday night by the Carolina Panthers at No. 163 overall.

"He's just a big athlete," noted Brad Obee, the Panthers Midwest scout who brought Evans to the table. "You see him in practice, you see him move around, he's super coordinated. His ball skills are excellent. He's got the ability to win in contested situations as a receiver."

Over the last two seasons, Evans pulled in 72 receptions for 843 yards and four touchdowns. His first couple of seasons, Notre Dame also used the former quarterback in a "tight-end sneak" situation, letting him take snaps on short yardage situations for a quarterback sneak that offensive coordinator Tommy Rees called "Mitch-A-Poolza," a nod to the movie "Old School." He had eight carries for 13 yards and a touchdown in those situations.

Seven games into the 2023 season, Evans tore his ACL. He spent the next 10 months working to get back on the field by the season-opening game against Texas A&M. He made it and finished the season with 43 receptions for 421 yards and three touchdowns. The comeback allowed Evans to focus more on his impact on the passing game.

"I truly feel like my versatility is my strength, and I know a lot of people kind of doubted my ability to come back from this injury in the passing game specifically," Evans commented. Now, it's time to lock in on the next part of his game.

"I truly feel like to elevate my next game, or to elevate my game to the next level, I'm going to have to get better at blocking, just, kind of get back into it and stuff, but I truly feel like my versatility is being able to do both; lineup in line, out in space, and, be able to create space against linebackers or safeties or be able to block the ends."

Added Obee, "And then as a blocker, he's still learning how to do it, but he's got all the ability to block on the line of scrimmage. He's athletic enough to work in space. So you see a really complete player when you see him live and when you watch his tape."

Evans will join another Notre Dame tight end in Charlotte. Tommy Tremble spent three years with the Fighting Irish and has met Evans over the years when returning to South Bend. The two Notre Dame products will be joined by last year's fourth-round pick, Ja'Tavion Sanders, as well as veteran Jordan Matthews and former basketball developmental player Colin Granger.

"I've talked with (Tommy) when he's made some stops back in Notre Dame or whatnot, so we definitely communicated in the past," said Evans. Now, he has a prediction for the Panthers tight end room.

"Notre Dame guys are great."