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Jarred Evans, left, and his attorney Paul Laufman in Hamilton County Municipal Court today.(Photo: Kevin Grasha/Enquirer)Buy Photo

Ryan Smith said the punch that knocked him unconscious came out of nowhere.

"I was blindsided," the 20-year-old University of Cincinnati sophomore testified Wednesday. He woke up in a hospital bed with IVs in one of his arms.

Prosecutors said the October 2014 incident was part of a "knockout game."

That version of events differed completely from what Evans' attorney, Paul Laufman, described during opening statements.

Laufman told jurors that a group of people were following Evans and his girlfriend. "The 'n' word," he said, was shouted at Evans, a backup quarterback for UC's football team. Laufman also said there were comments about interracial dating. Evans is black, his girlfriend is white. Both, he said, were getting nervous.

Eventually, Laufman said, Smith stood in front of Evans and his girlfriend and "(made) some kind of move" and "(came) at him."

At that point, Evans struck him once in the face, knocking him to the pavement.

Opening statements and testimony began Wednesday in Evans' trial in Hamilton County Municipal Court. Evans, 22, faces a misdemeanor assault charge. He has been suspended from the team but is still attending classes, said a spokeswoman for his family, Kimberly Reese.

Reese issued a statement on behalf of Evans' father that said Evans "is eager to return to his team and teammates." The statement also said the family would comment further "once the trial is over and our son has been exonerated."

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Prosecutor: 'Knockout game' involved in UC QB's trial