Jalen Royals Survived One of NCAA’s Worst QB Situations
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Two years. Four quarterbacks. Zero excuses. That’s the reality Jalen Royals lived at Utah State—and he still put up numbers worthy of national headlines.
While others needed perfect situations, Royals made magic out of mayhem. No chemistry? He built it on the fly. No timing? He created space anyway. Underthrown ball? He adjusted in stride.
“You didn’t know who was throwing it week to week,” a Utah State assistant coach shared. “But Jalen never complained. He just delivered.”
His adaptability became his superpower. He knew how to run clean routes even if the ball wouldn’t come. He learned to read the trajectory mid-air, making circus catches look routine.
It wasn’t just physical talent. It was mental toughness. Most players fade when the structure breaks down. Royals rose.
Kansas City didn’t just draft a wide receiver—they drafted a survivor. A player who doesn’t fold when things get unpredictable. And with a league as volatile as the NFL, that trait might be the most valuable of all.
Jalen Royals proved you don’t need perfect conditions to produce. You just need the will to rise through chaos—and that’s exactly what he brings to the Chiefs.
