Standing on the sidelines of M.M. Roberts Stadium, home of the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles football team, with State down 37-10, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Andrew Evans was called upon to do something he had yet to do in his collegiate career.

Graduate assistant Thomas Cox approached Andrew and instructed him to start warming up his brother, redshirt sophomore quarterback Daniel Evans.

At that point in time, Andrew said, he wasn’t sure what to think.

“I started getting a little nervous,” Andrew said. “I started thinking, ‘Oh man, Daniel is going in.'”

While catching Daniel’s passes and returning throws back, Andrew said small talk took place between him and his brother. But when it was time for Daniel to enter the game, Andrew recalls Daniel approaching him and requesting one thing from his brother and teammate.

“Pray for me,” Daniel said.

And that is exactly what Andrew did.

Since that point in time, there has been no looking back for Daniel.

He has led the Pack to victories over two then-ranked opponents, Boston College and Florida State, in his first two starts, while also being named ACC offensive back of the week for his performance in the game against Florida State.

With Daniel’s success, Andrew said he has been humbled by the attention and popularity his brother has received.

“Our whole lives, his successes have been my successes,” Evans said. “I am happier for him starting than I am for myself.”

Coach Chuck Amato said Andrew watching the success of his brother is nothing new.

“He has gone through this his whole life,” Amato said. “And he handles it really, really well.”

In a family with more than one sibling, Daniel said there might usually be a sibling rivalry present, but with Andrew and himself there isn’t.

“You couldn’t find it here,” Daniel said. “It couldn’t be more opposite.”

That is how football has always been for the Evans brothers.

At age 10, both Daniel and Andrew began playing football under the instruction of father Johnny Evans, a former N.C. State quarterback and All-American punter.

Andrew recalls that despite his father having a history of being a successful football player, neither his brother or himself were pressured into playing the sport.

“We actually had to convince him to let us play football when we were about 10 years old,” Andrew said. “He was real reluctant to let us play at such a young age.”

And when the two started to play, one had to pass and one had to catch. Andrew said the decision as to which he and Daniel would do was naturally simple.

“A lot of people ask why he has always been the quarterback and I have always been the receiver,” Evans said. “I was more inclined to run and catch, and he was always a better thrower. We just always did that growing up”

Growing up in Raleigh, Andrew and Daniel played their first organized football in middle school, playing in the Raleigh Parks and Recreation league where they reached the “Super Bowl” during their eighth-grade year.

The brothers continued playing through high school, leading Broughton High School to an 11-2 record their senior year.

Andrew said he received some interest from smaller schools, but garnered no interest from any “big schools.”

Daniel received some interest from some Division I-A teams and Division II teams coming out of high school, but decided to commit to State when he was offered a scholarship on signing day that year.

Upon Daniel’s signing to play at State, Andrew said his decision about where to play football was an easy one.

“After Daniel was offered a scholarship on signing day from State, I came and talked to the coaches here, and they invited me to walk on,” Andrew said.

Andrew said it was an ideal situation.

“I had been growing up watching N.C. State football my whole life,” Evans said. “I thought it would be a dream to play here, especially playing beside my brother.”

After they were both redshirted their freshman year and after they found limited game action last season, Daniel entered this season second on the depth chart at quarterback.

After the Pack went 1-2 in its first three games, Daniel was designated as the starting quarterback for the Boston College game.

Andrew said he knew Daniel had the opportunity to be successful that night.

“I was more nervous for him than I have ever been for myself,” Andrew said. “I was just so thrilled that he has had the success that he has had.”

Andrew, who said he “isn’t an emotional person,” said after junior wide receiver John Dunlap caught the game-winning touchdown pass from his brother in the back corner of the end zone, he couldn’t help but be emotional.

“I don’t know who I hugged, who was standing beside me,” Evans said. “But when John Dunlap caught that ball, I was jumping up and down, screaming and hugging everyone around me.”

From playing football at age 10 in the backyard to playing with each other on the State football team, Andrew and Daniel have been there together.

“We have done everything in our lives together,” Evans said. “This is no different.”