[Kiimo]

lol who tf says his route running was "not refined" he wasn't asked to run a diverse route tree that doesn't mean he can't. Stop talkin out your ass.

STRENGTHS
● Early acceleration to stack cornerbacks
● Burst to separate and create passing windows out of breaks
● Shimmies feet to shake press or make safeties miss once he gets to open field (17 forced missed tackles in 2024)
● Efficient catch-and-go skills to create on slants, bubbles and tunnel screens
● Tracks football and finishes with strong hands
● Able to flip his hips and maintain focus on throws to his opposite shoulder
● Built to play physical and showed improved run strength on 2024 tape (added 10 pounds of trim muscle between junior and senior seasons)
● Added kick return duties in 2024, averaging 20.4 yards per return (nine attempts for 184 yards)
● Reserved personality and described as an "incredible teammate" with "no ego" by offensive coordinator Kyle Cefalo

WEAKNESSES:
● Wasn't asked to run a diverse route tree
● Will round his breaks at times and needs to better set up route stems
● Inconsistent finishing grabs in traffic
● All three of his drops in 2024 came when he didn't secure the ball before looking upfield on quick hitters
● Needs to improve batting average as a blocker
● Missed final five games of his senior season after suffering a torn deltoid in his right foot (Oct. 2024)

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Utah State, Royals was an outside wide receiver (exclusively to the left of the quarterback) in offensive
coordinator Kyle Cefalo's pass-heavy spread scheme. A late bloomer, he exploded onto the NFL radar in 2023 as the only FBS player with 70
catches or more and 15 touchdown grabs or more. He was having another productive season as a senior before a right foot injury sidelined him for
the second half of 2024 (No. 4 in the FBS with 119.1 receiving yards per game at the time of his injury).
Thanks in part to his basketball background, Royals has a controlled, fluid stride and natural body coordination to be a weapon before and after the
catch (10 catches of 50 yards or more over the past two seasons ranked No. 1 in the FBS). His tape showed heavy helpings of screens, hitches and
go routes, and he is still learning the nuances of route running, although he showed improvements during Senior Bowl practices. Overall, Royals
combines smooth footwork with athletic body control, physical play strength and tracking skills to be a three-level threat as he expands his
route tree. He has the talent to emerge as a team's WR2 within his first few NFL seasons.
GRADE: 2nd-3rd round (No. 63 overall)