Spotlight Bull: Tight End Evan Dangler Paid His Dues For the Love of the Game
October 15, 2026 | Football
Once, University of South Florida tight end Evan Dangler was a creature of the night. As a hard-working walk-on — unheralded and largely unknown — he was always the last person to leave the football offices. There was a draining one-hour drive to his family home in Bradenton.
Finally, it dawned on him: Why leave? He couldn't afford an apartment, so why not just spend the night in the locker room or the indoor facility? Sometimes, he slept on a couch or his air mattress. It saved on gas, plus wear-and-tear on the body. Who would even notice?
He became South Florida's Phantom of the Opera, a solitary figure who had an undisturbed run of the place after all the players and coaches had gone home, then he quickly cleaned up before everyone returned. Dangler said he struck up a fast friendship with the night-hours custodian, who treated him as part of the landscape.
But there was that one evening when Dangler was awakened at about three in the morning in the locker room.
"It was two (USF) police officers,'' Dangler said. "They were doing a sweep or whatever. They assumed I was some random person who had broken in. When I explained I was actually on the team, they wanted proof. So, I showed them my student ID, then I took them to my locker that had my face on it.
"I kind of posed next to my photo. They looked at me, then they looked at my photo. That was finally enough proof. They said, 'OK, you're good,' then they moved on. And I could get back to sleep.''
These days, Dangler, the former Braden River High School standout who stayed local to play for his hometown university and arrived as a 200-pound walk-on defensive lineman, can rest easy.
Dangler, who earned a scholarship and was shifted to tight end under USF's previous coaching staff, has become a valuable offensive performer under head coach Brian Hartline.
Dangler (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) is part-tight end, part-fullback, all-football player. He describes himself as a "Swiss Army Knife guy,'' an effective part of the running game, a rugged blocker and a sneaky target for some passes. Fans will get more evidence in Saturday night's homecoming game when the Bulls (4-2) face the Kent State Golden Flashes (2-4) at Raymond James Stadium.
"Frankly, people want to write him off,'' Hartline said. "They say, 'He can't do this' or 'he can't do that' instead of highlighting the things he does well. We found a role for him. He did that on his own. We didn't give him anything.
"He does a really good job in the pass game. He's probably not a guy that you're looking to separate against a linebacker per se, but very capable (in running patterns), sure hands, very sufficient, great blocker, very smart, can pick up protections, does a good job in the box. He studies the game. There's a lot of positives that Evan Dangler brings to you that others don't have.''
Dangler's "want-to'' is off the charts.
"Evan is definitely a well-liked player in our locker room,'' tight end Kade Caton said. "He stands for all the qualities that are right about football. How could you not like that?''
"He has seen the highs and lows of this sport, but he kept going,'' quarterback Luke Kromenhoek said. "He'll do whatever it takes. He's a glue guy, one of those dudes who holds a team together.''
"Plain and simple — and you hear this word tossed around a lot in football — but Evan Dangler is a 'dawg,' '' tight end Luke Clyburn said. "The fans probably don't know who he is, but this football staff knows who he is. He's extremely reliable and you love guys like that.''
Dangler has two receptions for 26 yards this season, but his highlight was last season's 1-yard touchdown grab from Byrum Brown against Charlotte. Predictably, the USF bench erupted after witnessing Dangler's first career catch.
Dangler's shift from defensive lineman to tight end was the idea of former USF assistant Clay Patterson (who, ironically, now serves as Kent State's offensive coordinator) with the blessings of former defensive line coach Kevin Patrick. Sure enough, Dangler had soft hands and good understanding of pass patterns. But those weren't his best qualities.
"My primary strength is moving people out (in blocking),'' Dangler said. "As long as you get 1-percent better every day, as long as you put your best foot forward, things will work out for you. It has been that way my entire career and it's why I feel I'm the best I've ever been at this very moment. Because I'm always taking a step forward, never taking a step back.
"I've been around (since the 2022 season), so I feel like I can honestly say that out of anyone here, I've spent the most time in the football building. That has given me a connection to this program that's hard to explain. It's a part of me.''
There were times when Dangler debated whether his walk-on effort was worth it. His longtime girlfriend (and now fiancée) Haley Dragon often wondered the same thing.
"It's always hard in the beginning,'' Dangler said. "Once I explained it to Haley, that I knew I could one day earn a scholarship, she was behind me 100-percent. I loved football and I was never one to give up on anything. Some days are rough. Then you make a play or you get better and you realize it's 100-percent worth it. Right now, I feel like I'm 10 times the player I was last season.
"I could never walk away. There's only so much time you have to play college football. The rest of your life, you can do whatever you want with it, but you can't go back to playing college football.''
Dangler said he has relished getting his education while serving as a student-athlete, earning his bachelor's degree in medical science and now pursuing a master's degree in physical education. Just like in football, Dangler gives his best for academics.
"Evan Dangler is an easy guy to root for,'' tight end coach Sean Binckes said. "He does everything right. When we came here as a staff, I told my guys my story and I learned all of their stories. So I'm familiar with all the tales of the legendary Evan Dangler and the experiences he had in the football building. Something else, huh?''
The nightly jaunts around the football facility are now part of Dangler's history.
One of this season's perks: Dangler can afford an apartment, which he shares with his fiancée.
"Now we live less than 10 minutes away from campus and it's amazing,'' Dangler said. "I always slept pretty well (in the football facility) because I was exhausted from all the work. Right now, in our own place, I definitely sleep pretty well.''
Sweet dreams.
–#GoBulls–
Joey Johnston
Athletics Senior Writer
