Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Size:
Height: 6000
Weight: 205
Arm: 30 ⅛”
Hand: 9 ½”
Accomplishments:
First-Team All-Mountain West (2023)
“Jalen Royals is a crafty route-running technician who becomes a dangerous weapon with the ball in his hands.”
Strengths:
Route-running
Stem manipulation
Acceleration
Yards after the catch
Concerns:
Handling physicality through the route
Release variety
Press comfort
Film Analysis:
Jalen Royals did not have a ranking coming out of Hillgrove High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, where he put up 26 catches for 455 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. He was a three-sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and track, but his track background gives a glimpse into his athleticism. He was an all-state high jumper after clearing 6-4.00 to place sixth in the 7A state track and field championships.
He committed to play football at Georgia Military College, where he only amassed nine catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns. After his freshman season, he transferred to Utah State for the 2022 season but didn’t record a single stat on the field. Then he broke out as a junior with an incredible 71 catches, 1,080 yards, and fifteen touchdowns. After being an afterthought as a receiver through most of his football career, Royals had arrived. Had it not been for his foot injury this season, he’d be among the collegiate leaders in yards and touchdowns.
The plan of attack for Royals is well thought out, and he plays the position with fantastic timing and intention. This season, he aligned primarily on the outside for Utah State but has positional versatility to play all receiver roles. While he could add more releases to his package, he deliberately uses them and will vary when and how often he changes how he’s releasing into his stem. When facing soft press, Royals uses his hands reactively to keep his momentum and body language to sell vertical routes to defenders. He’s smart about getting them to turn their hips and breaking off his routes when they’ve shown their hand. A steep climb in physicality and competitive play can be challenging to adjust, but the tools are there to defeat press; the experience will come with time.
At the breakpoint, Royals gets his head to the quarterback and efficiently tracks the ball to all areas of the field. He doesn’t let the ball travel too far and attacks it with his hands whenever he can with proper technique. When he gets the ball in his hands, he is always looking for space and he knows how to get there. With a great center of gravity and quick feet, he routinely makes defenders miss tackles and bursts into space. He’s a better accelerator than a top-speed threat, but he’s not slow and tough over the middle of the field and after the catch. With the ball in the air, he’s an impressive tracker and can time his jumps with the best in the class. He has some incredible catches on his highlight reel.
Royals is a three-level threat with the tools to make impressive jumping grabs with his track background. He can win in a multitude of ways, and that’s the sign of a genuinely impactful receiver.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Daniel Harms
Exposures: Temple (2024), Boise State (2024), New Mexico (2024)
