NFL Draft 2010: Draft Profile of Evan Royster (RB) Penn State

Evan Royster enjoyed a fantastic season for Penn State in 2008 rushing for 1,239 yards on 196 carries and scoring 12 touchdowns on the ground. Yet Royster's breakout season should not have come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the career of the 6-1, 209 lbs Running Back from Virginia.

Before becoming the elite runner he is for the Nittany Lion's, Royster enjoyed a brilliant prep career at Westfield High School in Virginia, a school he led to a District Championships each of his three years there. Along the way, Royster would carry the ball for 90 touchdowns and over 6,300 yards rushing. Included in the totals were back to back seasons of over 2,000 yards his finally two years in school. Those seasons followed a sensational Sophomore season which saw the First Team All-State selection exploded onto the national prep with 1,690 yards rushing effort.

Though he would redshirt his first season at Penn State in 2006, Royster began to see substantial playing time during the 2007 season making the Sporting News Big Ten All-Freshman by year's end. His tally of 513 yards on 82 carries placed him second only to Rodney Knlaw in rushing. Royster would punctuate his excellent Freshman campaign by scoring on a 38 yard breakaway in the Valero Alamo Bowl that year.

Out from under Kinlaw's shadow in 2008, Royster became the go to guy in the Lion's backfield and responded with 5 games in which he gained over 100 yards rushing. The season was highlighted by a 174 yard rushing effort against Michigan, and a 141 yard effort (194 yards from scrimmage) against Illinois. Showing that he is able to carry a heavy work load as well, Royster also enjoyed a game against Iowa in which he carried the ball 26 times.

Headed into the 2009 season, the fast developing Junior may see his stock rise enough with NFL scouts to declare himself eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft. Already possessing the speed and instincts of an elite runner, Royster is also quick to read a defense and find the open hole. Once in the open, Royster is an elusive runner who is a threat to score at any time. Currently projected as a first day prospect if he decides to enter the NFL Draft, Royster may be able to find his way into the first round of the Draft with a successful 2009 campaign and a strong showing at the NFL Combine.

Sources:

www.gopsusports.com

www.sports.espn.go.com/ncf/

www.collegefootball.rivals.com