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Pros: This former Hokie possesses the athletic skills teams look for in a wide receiver. His forty-yard dash and twenty-yard split were among the best times at the NFL Scouting Combine. These numbers served as proof to what we already knew--Royal has an uncanny ability to start quickly and gain immediate separation. Not just a workout warrior, Royal has shown he can stretch the defense and excels with the ball in his hands after the catch. A stellar return man, Royal is very versatile—as he is dangerous on the run and can even throw the ball (one touchdown pass in five attempts).

Cons: Royal lacks ideal size in terms of height, length and bulk. This will limit his potential and effectiveness, as well as call his durability into question. There have been no major injuries, but Royal has dealt with several nagging dings along the way. While quarterback issues have existed during his tenure, Royal has not shown the type of consistent productivity you would’ve liked to seen.

Overall: Royal came to Blacksburg with a ton of talent, stepping in as the team’s leading receiver as a true freshman and establishing a school bench press record for wide outs (365 pounds). He took a bit of a step back in his sophomore season, but re-emerged as a junior to lead the club in receiving yards. As a senior, he set career highs with 33 receptions and four touchdowns. Royal was their primary returner, accumulating over 2,500 return yards over his four seasons; he had a 23.5 average on kick returns and an 11.7 average on punt returns for his career.

Our View: Royal is a very physical gifted athlete who is known as a hard worker and good character guy. He has more talent than we’ve seen on the field, due in part to a deep receiving corps and a lack of productivity from the quarterback position. He is not a number one receiver, but will be a better pro than collegian.