Jalen Royals | WR | Utah State | 2025 NFL Draft Eligible
I’ve begun to hear some buzz about senior WR Jalen Royals in recent weeks and decided to dig into his profile to see if he has what it takes to truly impact our Dynasty rosters down the line. Royals is a guy who really wasn’t being talked about prior to this season despite an impressive breakout junior year, and he’s building on those numbers in 2024. Before we take a look at Jalen’s production at Utah State, let’s see what his resume looked like prior to the Aggies.
High School and Early College Years
Jalen Royals was a three-sport athlete in high school, excelling in football, basketball, and track. As a senior for Hillgrove High School in Powder Springs, GA, Royals posted 26 receptions for 455 yards and four touchdowns. He was an all-state high jumper as well, placing sixth in the 7A Georgia state championships in 2021.
Due to Royals’ limited production on the gridiron in high school, he was unranked across all four major recruiting platforms, ultimately deciding to enroll at Georgia Military College in 2021 to play football.
As a freshman for Georgia Military College, Royals had a limited role, finishing the year with just 92 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. Following the 2021 season, Jalen transferred to Utah State for his sophomore season. He recorded no stats in 2022 but did appear in all 12 contests.
2023-Present
Jalen’s junior season in 2023 really came out of nowhere. He went from a kid who had limited production in high school and college to an integral part of this Utah State passing attack. On the year, he posted 99 targets, 70 receptions, 1,084 yards, and 15 touchdowns. His raw numbers were slightly more impressive than his efficiency numbers, finishing with a 20.2% target rate and 2.21 YPRR. His contested target rate of 23.2% suggests he had trouble creating separation consistently last year, but he did haul in 17 of 23 contested targets, which is truly elite.
Royals’ senior season has gotten off to an even better start, as he currently sits 5th in the FBS in targets earned with 70. He’s clearly the alpha in this Aggies receiving corps; Jalen already has 44 receptions, while the next-highest total is 19. Jalen’s efficiency numbers have improved across the board this year, boasting a target rate of 29.4% and 2.74 YPRR. He’s creating separation more frequently now, with a 15.7% contested target rate, and he’s 7th in the FBS in missed tackles for a wide receiver with 15, demonstrating his physicality. Over a 12-game season, Royals is pacing for the following numbers: 140 targets, 88 receptions, 1,292 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
Film Breakdown
The biggest thing that stands out on Jalen’s tape is his breakaway speed. If he gets open space to operate, he’s difficult to bring down, and you’re not going to catch this guy in a race to the endzone. He’s listed at 6’0″, 205 pounds, and looks like he may weigh even more. Royal is a vertical threat but is used around the line of scrimmage as well, as he’s so good with the ball in his hands, creating yardage after the catch. He also has a knack for adjusting to poorly thrown balls and bringing them down in traffic. The quarterback play Jalen has dealt with has been inconsistent, and he’s done well to produce despite this.
Dynasty/Devy Value
It’s tough to project out a prospect like Jalen Royals; being a late bloomer and coming from a G5 school must be taken into consideration. Jalen is currently projected to be a 3rd round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to NFL Mock Draft Database. He’s listed as the WR12 on their consensus big board and the 96th overall prospect. I think Jalen will end up being a Day 2 pick this spring. NFL teams will love the size, athleticism, and versatility Royals provides. He’s primarily an X receiver but can line up anywhere on the field. I think he’ll get lost in the mix a bit in Dynasty Superflex rookie drafts, going somewhere in the third or fourth rounds. In the right environment, I do think Jalen has the ability to carve out a nice role in the NFL and even impact our Dynasty rosters. Keep an eye on this young man as the season continues; he very well may sneak up draft boards even further!
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you got some valuable information you can use for your fantasy team! If you’d like additional insight into Dynasty Football news and analysis, please follow me on Twitter at @jim_DFF. Until next time, keep grinding out there, DFF family! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
