ORLANDO, Fla. — Humble beginnings can ignite beautiful opportunities.

“I just think about all of the times I was dying running the stadium, now I am out here painting. It’s crazy,” said Aaron Evans, a former UCF offensive lineman.

“Really it is a 180. From barbarisms to eccentric artist. I guess they are kind of related in the extreme passion it requires to do the things, but they are so different,” said Evans.

A journey he thinks about often.

“I’m telling you I don’t think I would be where I am at without that wind that pushed me through that season of my life that happened from this,” said Evans.

He did his first mural for UCF more than three years ago. Since then he has done five more throughout campus.

“Just driving around, it’s like my own personal gallery. It’s like a drive-through gallery,” said Evans.

It's an honor he doesn’t take for granted.

“I’ve been designing these murals for three months. Sketches and sketches and sketches. I stay up all night thinking about it,” said Evans.

After months of planning and a day of preparation Evans returns to the Bounce House to start his sixth mural at UCF.

“This one. Oh yeah that’s the ticket,” said Evans as he shuffles through his art supplies.

It’s the most intricate mural yet.

“The thing I am worried about this one is all of the little creases because I want the line to be consistent,” said Evans.

But as he gets going he finds his groove.

“Oh yeah this is going to be good. This is going to be really good,” said Evans.

Evans remains grateful that he took the jump.

“Being an artist has really allowed me to just be me and I was so scared to just be me for a long time,” said Evans.

Following his dreams while sending a powerful message.

“I see this as my vehicle now. The NFL was my vehicle before. I am trying to spread some message to the masses that you are seen, you matter and you are loved, and whatever you want to do with your life you should go do it and you should be yourself, unapologetically,” said Evans.

Whether it was hours of football practice or now days of painting, Evans' reason why remains the same.

“What fills my cup is being involved with people because life is relationship. It’s about people. The thing about murals is you get to connect with people all of the time whether you are there or not by virtue of the energy I pour out onto this wall. With football it's sort of like the same thing with the fan base because they get to come out on a Saturday and they get to see the fruit of your labor all week at practice,” said Evans.

Connecting with people — more specifically, Knight Nation.

“They have supported me. They have encouraged me. I wouldn’t be as successful as I am right now without Knight Nation,” said Evans.