A versatile player who gives the Hokies a big-play threat in several phases of the game ... Is one of the team's most dangerous receivers ... Has run for two career touchdowns on reverses ... Led the squad in punt and kickoff returns last fall ... Was third on the team in receptions after leading the Hokies as a freshman in 2004 ... Combines great hands with a knack for picking up extra yards after a catch ... A Super Iron Hokie in the weight room who has bench pressed 380 pounds ... Has excellent athletic ability and speed to go with football savvy ... Was a consistent performer during the spring ... Moved into the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2004 ... Named a second-team freshman All-American by Rivals.com ... Missed 2005 spring practice with compartment syndrome in his left leg, but returned to start every game last season at flanker ... A key figure in Tech's offensive plans.
2005: Was third on the team in receptions with 27 for 315 yards and two touchdowns ... Carried the football 10 times for 79 yards and a TD ... Averaged 8.2 yards on punt returns and 20.9 yards on kickoff returns ... Broke his own position record for the bench press with a lift of 380 when the players returned in August ... Returned a punt 19 yards against NC State in the season opener ... Caught a pass for an 18-yard gain in the Duke game ... Posted two catches for 44 yards against Georgia Tech ... Also had a 36-yard kickoff return and four punt returns for 35 yards in that game ... Tied a career-high with six catches at West Virginia, including a 15-yarder for a TD ... Also had 20 yards rushing on a pair of reverses ... Caught three passes for 34 yards in win over Marshall ... Had two punt returns for 38 yards and two kickoff returns for 43 at Maryland ... Also had three receptions for 33 yards and a rush for 8 yards ... Scored on a 15-yard reverse in the BC game ... Returned the opening kickoff against Miami, but was sidelined the rest of the game by a hamstring injury ... Caught three passes at Virginia for 47 yards and a touchdown ... Hauled in four passes for 43 yards against FSU ... Caught two passes against Louisville in the Gator Bowl ... Gained Super Iron Hokie honors during spring max tests ... Had a personal-best 450-pound back squat and a 39-inch vertical jump ... Also turned in the best 40 time at 4.22 ... Hauled in three passes for 52 yards in Tech's second spring scrimmage ... Scored the first touchdown of the Maroon-White game on a 4-yard reverse ... Had one catch in the game for 12 yards and two punt returns for 26 yards.
2004: Led the team with 28 catches for 470 yards and three touchdowns ... Also averaged 28.8 on kick returns and 11.0 on punt returns ... Saw action on 328 snaps on offense and 85 on special teams in the regular season ... Got his first collegiate start against Western Michigan ... Scored the game's first touchdown on an 11-yard reverse ... Later scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass ... Had a big day returning punts against NC State ... Had a long of 58 yards ... Finished with 107 yards on three returns ... Also caught two passes for 47 yards ... Caught an 8-yard pass on Tech's first offensive possession against WVU, but suffered a slight concussion on that play ... Missed the rest of the first half ... Returned in the second half to catch five passes for 37 yards ... Finished the game with a career-high six receptions for 45 yards ... Missed the FAMU game due to an illness ... Started at Georgia Tech and scored on a big 80-yard touchdown catch-and-run ... The 80-yard score was the longest by a Tech freshman since freshmen were eligible to play in 1972 ... Finished the game with three catches for 91 yards ... Did suffer a fumble on a kickoff return ... Had four catches for 84 yards, as well as a 25-yard kickoff return, at North Carolina ... Caught two passes for 44 yards, including the game-winning, 39-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, at Miami ... Had an 18-yard punt return to set up that drive ... Had a 48-yard kickoff return in the Sugar Bowl against Auburn ... Set a position record in the bench press with a 365-pound mark.
High School: Named the Mid-Atlantic Offensive Player of the Year by SuperPrep ... Selected the Group AAA player of the year by The Associated Press ... Was The Washington Post All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year ... Earned both SuperPrep and PrepStar All-America honors following his senior season for Coach Tom Verbanic ... Teamed with fellow Tech signee Sean Glennon to lead his team to the Group AAA Division 6 championship with a 14-0 record ... Had 41 pass receptions for 875 yards and 11 touchdowns ... Contributed a 47-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 1-yard TD run on a reverse in the state title game ... Hauled in 48 passes as a junior for 905 yards and 11 touchdowns ... Scored 10 TDs on kick returns during his career ... Rated the No. 1 player in Virginia by SuperPrep and the No. 2 player by The Roanoke Times ... Ranked the No. 13 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals ... Was picked first-team all-state by the state coaches as a receiver and kick returner.
Personal: William Edward Royal ... Born 5/21/86 in Alexandria, VA ... Son of Pearl Royal ... Majoring in sociology.
Passing
G
Effic.
Att-Comp
Pct.
Yds.
TD
INT
2006
13
225.07
3-1
33.3
53
1
1
2007
13
-100.00
2-0
.0
0
0
1
Career
26
95.04
5-1
20.0
53
1
2
Rushing
G
No.
Yds.
Avg.
TD
LG
2004
12
1
11
11.0
1
11
2005
13
10
79
7.9
1
17
2006
13
5
24
4.8
0
10
2007
13
8
112
14.0
0
53
Career
51
24
226
9.4
2
53
Receiving
G
No.
Yds.
Avg.
TD
LG
2004
12
28
470
16.8
3
80
2005
13
27
315
11.7
2
42
2006
13
31
497
16.0
3
49
2007
13
33
496
15.0
4
56
Career
51
119
1778
14.9
12
80
Tackles
G
UT
AT
Tot.
Loss
Sacks
2005
13
2
0
2
0-0
0-0
2006
13
1
0
1
0-0
0-0
2007
13
1
0
1
0-0
0-0
Career
39
4
0
4
0-0
0-0
K.O. Ret.
G
No.
Yds.
Avg.
TD
LG
2004
12
12
346
28.8
0
48
2005
13
14
293
20.9
0
36
2006
13
19
431
22.7
0
55
2007
13
14
316
22.6
0
59
Career
51
59
1386
23.5
0
59
Punt Ret.
G
No.
Yds.
Avg.
TD
LG
2004
12
25
274
11.0
0
58
2005
13
32
263
8.2
0
29
2006
13
23
304
13.2
1
58
2007
13
31
455
14.7
2
82
Career
51
111
1296
11.7
3
82
- INTEGRITY - SERVICE - HONOR - EXCELLENCE - STRONG TOGETHER