Jalen Royals Was Utah State’s Entire Offense—and Everyone Knew It

Imagine being the only real threat on your team—and still being unstoppable. That was Jalen Royals every Saturday at Utah State.

Opposing defenses keyed in on him from snap one. Double teams. Press coverage. Safety help over the top. It didn’t matter. Royals kept torching secondaries.

His final year? 15 touchdowns. Over 1,000 receiving yards. And every catch felt like a miracle—not because of his ability, but because every defense knew the ball was going to him.

“He was the offense,” a former Mountain West coordinator admitted. “We had no illusions. If we didn’t stop him, we didn’t win.”

Royals wasn’t just productive. He was relentless. When they bracketed him, he adjusted. When they jammed him, he slipped free. Even when the play broke down, he found soft zones and bailed out his QB.

That level of consistent dominance, despite overwhelming attention, speaks to more than talent—it speaks to grit. It’s what Kansas City saw when they took him in the fourth round: a player who thrives under pressure, adapts fast, and refuses to be erased.

NFL defenses won’t be able to ignore him either. And this time, he’ll have Mahomes throwing him the ball. Good luck with that.