Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Evan Delp will play his collegiate football just down the road from his high school campus.
The Coosa Christian senior signed a scholarship with Jacksonville State University on December 16 in Gadsden. Delp is an early enrollee and will start classes at JSU in January.
“First and foremost, I’d like to thank God for giving me this opportunity,” said Delp (pictured above right will ball). “I’d also like to thank my parents and all the teachers and coaches that’s helped me reach this point in my life. I’m very excited to start this new chapter, and even though I no longer play football for Coosa Christian, I’ll always be a Conqueror at heart.”
Delp was named Overall Athlete for the 2020 All-Messenger football team after finishing the season with 36 catches for 711 yards and five touchdowns, running back 12 kickoffs for 509 yards and four touchdowns and registering 33 tackles, six interceptions and four fumble recoveries on defense.
“It’s been a great honor to coach Evan and watch him grow in the three years that I’ve been at Coosa,” said Rod Cates, Delp’s football coach for his junior season. “A lot of what people don’t see is the hours that Evan puts in the weight and doing the extra stuff when nobody’s out there but him. That’s what it takes to get the job done. What’s more important to me is the character that Even has along with the fact that he’s a good, Godly young man. All of our younger guys should use Evan as an example.”
For his career with the Conquerors, Delp amassed 3,911 receiving yards on 129 receptions.
“Evan is a very special kid who I’d adopt right now if I could,” said Coosa head football coach Mark O’Bryant. “He’s represented Cosa Christian with such class, and he’s got big things ahead of him. I’ve been [coaching high school football] for 18 years now, and I’ve never been at a school that supports its students in the way that [Coosa] does. It’s the best place I’ve ever been, by far.”