Evan Royster, RB

The Washington D.C. area recruit could have played lacrosse at perennial powers Virginia or James Madison, but opted for a chance to play for legendary head coach Joe Paterno at Penn State. All he did during his four years in Happy Valley was become the school's all-time leading rusher -- no minor feat considering the talented backs who have walked that campus over the years.

Royster earned first-team All-Big 10 honors from league coaches by covering 1,169 yards and scoring six times on 205 carries in 2009; he also caught 16 passes for 187 yards and two scores. He had a better yards-per-carry average as a sophomore (6.5), being named second-team all-conference with 192 carries for 1,236 yards and 12 touchdowns along with 17 receptions for 155 yards.

Even as a redshirt freshman, Royster contributed heavily (82-513-6.3-5 rushing, 3-18 receiving) despite being limited by a sprained ankle late in the year.

Royster came into his senior year a bit heavy, but dropped the weight during the season and regaining enough burst to earn second-team All-Big 10 accolades (208-1,014-6 rushing, 25-202-1 receiving). If scouts forgive his early-season struggles behind an average offensive line, they may consider Royster a mid-to-late-round pick with some versatility as a receiver.

Strengths: Tough between-the-tackles back with a little burst. Finds creases inside, gets a good lean after the line to extend the run. Not an explosive outside runner, but can make big plays when a hole is there. Follows blocks patiently on outside runs, picking his way into a hole with quick feet. Can carry defenders for a few yards after contact. Gets low to churn out yards over smaller linebackers and defensive backs on the edge. Gets upfield on quick throws into the flat, can make a defender miss and get first downs on third-and-medium. Moves out to receiver, shows quick cut on slant route on the outside.

Weaknesses: Stands almost straight up in his stance. Vision is lacking, will miss cut back lanes. Inconsistent keeping his balance to maximize his gain. Will also lose his feet when cutting back in traffic. Lacks the quickness to beat NFL linebackers to the corner (or the elusiveness to make them miss) on pitch plays. Carries the ball in front of his frame at times, leading to fumbles (three in 2009 and 2010, two in 2008, one in 2007). Inconsistent concentration as a receiver, struggles adjusting to balls with pace outside of his frame. A liability in pass protection, stands around or resorts to cut blocks that are marginally effective. Ducks his head to chip before heading into a route, whiffs too often when standing up to blitzers.

--Chad Reuter

A three-time all-conference honoree, Royster became Penn State's career rushing yardage leader during the 2010 campaign, finishing with 3,932 yards. The previous mark was 3,398 yards by Curt Warner (1979-82). A three-year starter, Royster gained 98 yards against Florida in the 2011 Outback Bowl to become the first Nittany Lion with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons, gaining 1,014 yards and six touchdowns, along with 25 receptions for 202 yards and a touchdown this past season. The former Westfield High School standout posted 15 career 100-yard rushing games, topped by 187 yards vs. Temple this season, and the Nittany Lions were 15-0 when he cracked the century mark. Royster scored 29 career rushing touchdowns, with both marks tied for fifth in school history.

Royster was selected 2009 firstteam All-Big Ten by the coaches and media after receiving second-team accolades in 2008. He was ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten in rushing at 89.9 ypg and his 5.7 per carry average was first among all conference players with at least 110 carries. The instinctive and strong Royster also was fifth in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (104.9 ypg). He gained 1,169 yards on 205 carries in 2009, with six touchdowns. He also had 16 receptions for 187 yards (11.7) and two scores and tallied a team-high 1,364 all-purpose yards. Royster made a career-long 49-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter of the 28-7 win over Syracuse. His 61 receiving yards for the game also were a career-high. Royster carried the ball 19 times for 134 yards in the win over Temple. He gave Penn State a 14-3 lead in the second quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run and gained 119 yards on just 15 carries in the first half, including a 33- yard burst. Royster gained 69 yards against Iowa, becoming the 17th Nittany Lion to eclipse 2,000 career rushing yards. He had 105 yards and scored a touchdown in the win at Illinois. Royster and Stephfon Green (120 yards) became the first tandem of Nittany Lion running backs to eclipse 100 yards in a Big Ten game. Royster ran for 94 yards on just eight carries (11.8 avg.), all in the first half, in Penn State's 52-3 victory over Eastern Illinois. He delivered a season-high 137 yards on 23 carries against Minnesota and had a 20-carry, 100-yard rushing performance in the 35-10 win atMichigan. Royster had a 41-yard dash on the Lions' first drive to set up a touchdown.

Royster gained 118 yards on 15 carries in the 34-13 win at Northwestern. He sprinted for a 69-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, the longest run of his career and the team's longest run of the 2009 season. Roystermoved into 10th place in the Penn State record books against Ohio State. He tallied 134 all-purpose yards against Indiana (95 rushing, 39 receiving) in the 31-20 Senior Day victory. He notched one touchdown rushing and a 13-yard receiving touchdown. Royster surpassed the 100-yard mark for the sixth time in 2009 by gaining 114 yards in the 42-14 win at Michigan State. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the

second consecutive season on a 22-yard run on Penn State's opening drive. He also had a 30-yard burst, averaging 8.8 yards on his 13 carries against the Spartans. Royster cracked the century mark for the 12th time in his career and the Lions remained unbeaten in such contests. He came up big in the victory over LSU in the Capital One Bowl as he ran for 65 yards on 17 carries in challenging conditions. Royster was on the field for 593 plays last year, led by 64 in the win over Minnesota.

Talented and experienced offensive line and wide receiver units and a highly-effective throwing and running quarterback produced a great situation for Royster, who won the primary ball-carrying duties in preseason and had a breakout campaign. Royster was impressive, gaining 1,236 rushing yards on 191 attempts (6.5) and scoring 12 touchdowns. His 1,236 yards ranked as the 10th-best rushing season in Penn State history and were a school record for a sophomore, eclipsing Curtis Enis' 1,210 yards in 1996. Royster also ranked third on the squad with 17 receptions for 155 yards, compiling 1,391 all-purpose yards, second only to Derrick Williams. Rushing for 100 yards or more five times, his 72 points were sixth-highest in the Big Ten among non-kickers. His eye-popping 6.47 per carry average was third-highest among the nation's Top 30 rushers. With the Nittany Lions putting up big numbers in offensive yardage and on the scoreboard, it wasn't until the 10th game of the season that Royster carried the ball more than 20 times in a contest, enabling him to remain fresher and take less of a pounding than other runners as the season progressed. Playing in every game, with 12 starts, Royster gained 64 yards on just eight carries in the opener with Coastal Carolina, scoring on runs of 2, 7 and 10 yards.

He was honored as Big Ten Network Player-of-the-Game. Royster exploded onto the national scene with his exceptional performance in the 45-14 win over Oregon State, rushing for a then-career-high 141 yards on just 17 carries, for a remarkable 8.3-yard average. He also found the end zone three times against the Beavers, on runs of 4, 15 and 28 yards, becoming the first player in the Joe Paterno era to rush for six touchdowns in the first two games of a season. He shared Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week accolades. Royster eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second consecutive week in the victory at Syracuse, totaling 103 yards on just 13 carries for a sterling 7.8 yards per carry average. His game-high 31-yard run early in the second quarter was the centerpiece of Penn State's fourth scoring drive. Royster ran for 73 yards on just nine carries (8.1 avg.) in the win over Temple. His day was highlighted by a 32-yard touchdown scamper in the second quarter. In the 38-24 victory against Illinois, Royster gained 139 yards on 19 carries and made two catches for 23 yards. In the win at Purdue, he tied his career-high by grinding out 141 yards on 18 carries (7.8) and scored for the eighth time on a four-yard dash in the third quarter. He also set career-highs for receptions (4), receiving yards (53) and all-purpose yards (194) against the Boilermakers. Royster rolled to a career-high 171 yards rushing, including 112 in the first half, on 17 carries (10.1) and one touchdown in the 46-17 thumping of Michigan. He was instrumental in helping to swing the momentum late in the first quarter with a great individual effort, breaking through would-be tacklers at the line of scrimmage to get into the open field for a career-long 44-yard touchdown jaunt. The 100-yard rushing effort was Royster's fifth of the season and sixth of his brief career.

Royster helped Penn State control the clock and maintain possession by grinding out 77 yards on 19 carries in the 13-6 primetime victory at Ohio State. He gained 43 yards in the fourth quarter, helping the Lions score the game's final 10 points in the important win. He also tied for the team lead in receptions, hauling in three for 20 yards against the Buckeyes. Royster set a career-high in carries, rushing 26 times, at Iowa. His 90 yards on the day upped his season total to 1,060, marking the fourth consecutive season that a Penn State running back had reached the 1,000-yard mark. Royster ran for 63 yards (on 12 carries) in the win over Indiana. His 19-yard slashing, tackle-breaking touchdown run early in the third quarter sparked the Lions' dominating second-half offensive performance. The rushing touchdown was Royster's 12th of the season, the most by a Penn State back since Larry Johnson had 20 in 2002. In the 49-18 win over Michigan State, Royster quietly gained an important 79 yards rushing on just 12 carries (6.6 avg.). He also caught three passes for 34 yards in the Big Ten title-clinching win. Royster gained 34 yards on just six carries against Southern California's top-rated defense in the 2009 Rose Bowl, but sprained an ankle in the first half and did not return. He was on the field for 476 snaps, topped by 56 at Iowa and 52 at Purdue.

Playing in 12 games, Royster gained 513 yards on 82 carries for a superb 6.3 average, tops among the team's primary ball-carriers. He was second on the team in rushing, scored five rushing touchdowns and caught three passes for 18 yards. For his efforts, he was named to The Sporting News Big Ten All-Freshman team. Royster had just three carries in the last two regular-season games due to a sprained ankle, but was at full strength for the Valero Alamo Bowl, helping Penn State rush for a season-high 270 yards. He capped his freshman campaign by scoring the game-winning touchdown on a season-long 38-yard burst late in the third quarter. Royster finished with 65 yards on nine carries (7.2) in the 24-17 win over Texas A&M. In his Penn State debut, Royster wowed the Beaver Stadium crowd by gaining 70 yards on just eight carries (8.8 avg.) against Florida International. He tallied his first career touchdown on a 13-yard scamper in the third quarter.

He chalked up 86 yards on 16 carries in the 27-7 win over Iowa and ran for 68 yards on just eight carries (8.5 avg.) in the 38-7 victory against No. 19 Wisconsin. Royster bolted 19 yards into the end zone in the second quarter to give the Lions a 24-7 lead against the Badgers. He had a team-high 68 yards on the ground on 12 carries (5.7 avg.) in the critical win at Indiana, scoring his third touchdown of the season on a two-yard run. Royster delivered his best performance of the year in the Senior Day win over Purdue. He set season-highs with 126 yards and 21 carries (6.0 avg.). He burst 26 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to give the Lions a 26-16 lead and also had a 33-yard run. At Temple, Royster carried the ball one time for five yards, but sprained his ankle on the play and did not return. He carried the ball twice for eight yards at Michigan State, but tweaked the ankle and did not return. He was on the field for 221 snaps, topped by 41 against Iowa and 39 against Purdue.

Redshired.

Royster was a first-team all-state selection for Coach Tom Verbanic at Westfield HS. He also was named Washington Post first-team All-Met, concluding his brilliant career with 6,384 yards on 750 carries (8.5 avg.) and 90 touchdowns. As a sophomore, Royste