SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 23, 2026

Anthony Evans III

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Press Conference

Q. Obviously team goals are at the top of your list. What individual goals do you want to meet to get to those team goals?

ANTHONY EVANS III: My goal, the reason I came back instead of going to the league, was to break the single receiving record here at Mississippi State. My teammate doing it last year, I feel like that's what I'm chasing.

Q. People like to say you're kind of following in Brenen's footsteps. What does that mean to you, and how do you plan to live up to his legacy that he left at State last year?

ANTHONY EVANS III: I feel like that's something that you can't ignore with what he did. I feel like he left a great legacy. I'm the guy that's right behind it.

So with me sitting back and learning back from what he did, when I was right there, right next to him, being his Luigi to his Mario. So be able to learn what he did, and now I'm the guy. So I'm gonna go chase what he did.

Q. Obviously you're from or went to Converse, not far from you. We got to see you play many times in high school. How excited are you to play back in the hometown area. I know Austin's 45, 50 miles up the road from you, but how excited is it to be in front of that area again?

ANTHONY EVANS III: Getting to have my friends and family go to that game, but obviously I'm there to win. I mean that's what they say is an extra distraction. I'm just there to win.

Q. With Kamario being the starting quarterback this year, what can we see from what can we expect to see from the two of you on this field?

ANTHONY EVANS III: We're gonna score from far and be electric. That's what we live on, play free, fast and freaky -- the three Fs.

Q. (Audio issues).

ANTHONY EVANS III: Of course. I feel like that's something that ain't gonna ever go away. I always get goosebumps, no matter what's going on. That ain't gonna ever leave.

Q. How has it been with Kamario and Fluff and how you guys are kind of a three-headed monster of that offense?

ANTHONY EVANS III: No, I hate to say it, I'm the old head. I lead by example. I got those two young guys behind me. Just showing them the way.

Q. Your nickname, Antman, where did it come from? What does it mean?

ANTHONY EVANS III: Honestly, I don't know. That's something that the media created.

Q. Back going to your recruitment, I know A&M was kind of in the mix. How much did you look at them? And what do you remember from A&M back then?

ANTHONY EVANS III: I share good memories of me being a Texas guy. When Jimbo was there, that was somebody I could always talk to. Him being not too far from where I'm from. I ended up choosing somewhere else. So things happen.

Q. When you talk about culture it means a whole lot different things depending on what locker room you're in. What does culture look like at Mississippi State?

ANTHONY EVANS III: We're tired of coming close. So that's something we preach all the time. With three games being one play away, just finishing, paying attention to the little details. That's going to change the ending result of everything.

Q. State, we're known for the cowbells. It was kind of a problem last year, (indiscernible) going into Tennessee, they were starting to create the rules and regulations about it. How distracting are they really when the opposing team comes and there's 60,000 cowbells nonstop ringing?

ANTHONY EVANS III: It hurts my ears. They ring it whether I'm on the field or not. I'm on offense. The fans don't care. They ring them just because they like their little toys.

Q. How does it feel to represent Mississippi State here in Tampa?

ANTHONY EVANS III: It's an honor. It's a blessing to be here, represent the team. They aren't here. So it's three guys here. I'm blessed to be here.

Q. You mentioned getting close. How good did it feel last year in hindsight, going back to the Arkansas game, just to be finally able to have a close game in the fourth quarter and be able to actually finish it and see the fruits of your labor pay off with a win?

ANTHONY EVANS III: Yeah, no, it was good. The energy and excitement we felt with that win, me being able to make that play at the end of the game, just make a way. It was a blessing for that to happen.

And we needed that in the locker room. Just to build on what we see is possible. So we're gonna build on that.

Q. When you were in high school at Judson, I don't know if you remember playing A&M Consolidated back in the day, or do you remember that? What do you remember from that game?

ANTHONY EVANS III: I mean, that was about four years ago. I don't really remember too much. But I remember they were a pretty decent team. But I don't really remember too much from four years ago.

Q. You mentioned being the old head of the group. What do you feel like is your best quality as a leader on this team?

ANTHONY EVANS III: I bring energy. I'm always the guy that's gonna joke around, but when serious is needed I'm there. I'm the guy who's gonna dance, talk the talk. It is what it is. But being an old head is not something to be happy about. But it is what it is.

Q. What's on your playlist before the game?

ANTHONY EVANS III: YoungBoy. I got some Drake in there. I'm a big Drake guy. He calms me down. Mike Jack, that Human Nature, whatever comes up.

Q. Do you have a favorite SEC site that you've played at on the road? If you haven't been to one that you would like to get to, what would those be?

ANTHONY EVANS III: I'd probably say Alabama. My sophomore year, that was a great experience. I know everybody remembers that game with what Ryan did at the end of the game. But that was a great experience. But it is what it is.

Q. Is there one that you haven't gotten to that you would like to get to?

ANTHONY EVANS III: One I'm going to get to is LSU. I'm ready for it.

Q. Following up on your statement about listening to Drake before the game, if you had to pick a Drake song, whether from these three recent albums or prior, to be your anthem for the season, what would it be?

ANTHONY EVANS III: That's a great question. But there's not a direct song. You can't single out one. He's the G.O.A.T.

Q. I know when I played -- it wasn't back with the leather helmets, but it was back away -- every time the receiver came in the huddle, he said to the quarterback, I'm open. Has that changed at all?

ANTHONY EVANS III: Of course not. I'm always open. Even if I'm on the sideline, I'm not in, I'm open.

Q. All the players this week have been saying they take it week by week, game by game, but if you had to pick, which game this season are you most excited to play in?

ANTHONY EVANS III: Alabama. I've never beat them. So that's something I look forward to. I need to get my get back.

Q. When you leave, what's the three words you want people to say about your experience at Mississippi State, three words?

ANTHONY EVANS III: I want them to say the three Fs, free, fast and freaky.