Group of Five pass catcher receiving rave reviews as a 2025 NFL Draft prospect, early name to know
The amount of talented wide receivers who have entered the NFL is at a ridiculous level the last several years. The 2025 NFL Draft looks like it could continue that streak of talented pass catcher classes. One name to keep a close eye on this cycle is Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals. One of […]
The amount of talented wide receivers who have entered the NFL is at a ridiculous level the last several years. The 2025 NFL Draft looks like it could continue that streak of talented pass catcher classes. One name to keep a close eye on this cycle is Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals.
One of the more underrated playmakers in the class, Royals put together a tremendous season in 2023. In 13 games, he hauled in 71 receptions for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns. That touchdown reception total was second in college football, only behind Jacksonville Jaguars first round pick Bryan Thomas Jr., who had 17 for LSU last season.
What’s so impressive about Royals is he was on nobody’s radar heading into this past season. In his two previous college seasons, Royals had just seven receptions for 92 yards. That included a year at Georgia Military College.
Now Royals is extremely well-liked in NFL circles, making his journey that much more interesting. Standing at 5’11 ½” and 194 pounds, there is a lot to like about the Aggie star. NBC Sports NFL Draft analyst Connor Rogers joined The First Team NFL Draft and College Football Podcast to discuss various prospects, including Royals.
Here is what Rogers had to say about the Utah State pass catcher:
“In this class, on that specific show ranking 20 wide receivers, I had him as the ninth ranked wide receiver. That was over names that people know like Tez Johnson, Tre Harris and Xavier Restrepo. He does some DeVonta Smith things. I’m like, damn he’s so smooth. He’s elite at finding the football. He understands body control. His road to being a star is just insane. Like, what happened here? This is one of the best wide receivers in college football.”
Roberts’ Take
Connor hit this evaluation right on the head. Having watched Royals recently, he needs a lot more buzz in NFL draft circles. He tracks the football about as well as any wide receiver in the class, possessing outstanding ball skills and strong hands. This allows him to play through contact, having a pretty dense frame to counteract size and length. Royals is also a good overall athlete with good long speed, and initial explosiveness. He also has a nice release package, having deceptive feet at the line of scrimmage.
If you love the NFL Draft and are doing homework on early 2025 prospects, get Royals on your radar. He has a chance to rise quickly in the space. Royals has quite a few fans so far.
