Gray Evans’ Toughest Opponent: Beating Cancer to Reclaim His Future
Brylea Smith, Athletics Communications
Gray Evans always knew one thing about his future.
He wanted to play football.
What he did not expect was for that plan to be deterred by a life-altering diagnosis…blood cancer.
My faith kept me going. I knew that this would now be a part of my life and that this can strengthen me in the end and inspire others.Gray Evans
On February 1, 2025, Evans received some of the toughest news of his life, that he had been diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. What was supposed to be a normal senior year, turned into a battle he never saw coming.
“I didn’t know it was going to be that serious,” Evans explained. “When they told me that it was cancer, it felt like everything in the world just stopped.”
After four months of intense chemotherapy, May 15th would be a day he remembers for a positive reason. It was the day he got to ring the bell at the end of his treatment.
“That’s a day I’ll never forget,” Evans said. “When I heard the bell ring, it gave me closure. I was finally done and could get back to playing football. A big part of it is knowing I don’t have to go back to that place, even though the checkups still bring a familiar sense of dread.”
In a time that can be so dark, Evans found strength in the people and faith that surrounded him.
“My faith kept me going,” Evans said. “I knew that this would now be a part of my life and that this can strengthen me in the end and inspire others. My mom took me to every treatment. My dad, brothers, and best friends back in Houston were all around me, keeping me going.”
His family weren’t the only people who had his back during this time. Texas A&M’s football staff and players all made sure to check in on one of their own, even if he wasn’t in Aggieland.
“Coach [Patrick] Dougherty would always call and checkup on me almost every week,” Evans said. “I would also come to spring practices while in treatment and Coach [Mike] Elko would walk over and check in on me. Teammates that I didn’t even know well and even some of the 2025 commits in my class were always reaching out. It was good to see that I had a strong extended family and had so many people behind me.”
Getting back into top shape was a hard challenge. Throughout the treatment, Evans lost about 30 pounds and was no longer in prime form for football. Tommy Moffitt, director of football strength and conditioning at Texas A&M, helped spearhead the process of getting him back into shape, while also keeping in mind the limitations Evans would face at the beginning.
Now, he is back to normal training, but that didn’t come without its road bumps. Chemotherapy can leave a strain on a person’s physicality and Evans’ journey was no different. He rang the bell May 15th, 2025, and was back in workouts May 28th. The early stages were full of dizziness and breaks, with Moffitt reminding him to not push himself past his limit.
“After I went through my first round of chemotherapy, it felt like I couldn’t replenish my energy,” Evans said. “When I finished the first round I was like ‘Oh gosh, I have to do this like five more times, I don’t know how I’m going to do that.’ The longevity and the toll on my body was the hardest part of my recovery.”
While chemotherapy was a rough time for his physicality, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for his mental strength.
“I think the treatment helped me develop my mental toughness,” Evans continued. “Honestly, if I didn’t go through any of that, it would’ve been harder for me to get where I am now because I wasn’t as disciplined.”
As Evans nears the one-year mark from the end of his treatment, he thinks on how far he has come. He gained back things like his strength, being able to grow out his hair, and being able to go on trips again. All these milestones meant so much to him, even if it seems small to others, it was a reminder of how far he has come.
This (My Cause, My Cleats) is an awesome opportunity. Yes, I went through cancer, but I’m not bigger than anyone else. To represent all the people with blood cancer and to put it on the map through football is amazing. I can’t wait to wear those cleats and just give others hope.Gray Evans
In the end, there isn’t just one thing Evans wants to do. He’s simply embracing the fact that he’s no longer in the same position he was in less than a year ago.
“Being able to be free,” Evans said. “There is not one specific thing I want to do, I’m just glad I can be free from the stress of having to go do another round of chemotherapy or blood work or any of that stuff.”
This week, Evans will get the chance to represent his cause on the big stage, with members of the Texas A&M’s football program participating in a My Cause, My Cleats initiative at Saturday’s Maroon & White Game.
“This is an awesome opportunity,” Evans said. “Yes, I went through cancer, but I’m not bigger than anyone else. To represent all the people with blood cancer and to put it on the map through football is amazing. I can’t wait to wear those cleats and just give others hope.”
Evans’ journey is no longer defined by the diagnosis that once put his life on hold, but by the resilience that carried him forward. What began as the toughest battle of his life has become a source of strength, perspective, and purpose. Now back on the field and looking ahead, Evans isn’t just chasing his football dreams, he’s carrying a message with him. One of perseverance, gratitude, and hope for anyone fighting a battle of their own.
