Roysteritis

I'm getting more and more excited about Evan Royster. Remember the buzz around Austin Scott's arrival to Happy Valley in 2003? This kid should get more, much more than that kind of hype. But before we all take a collective heav-ho onto the band wagon, let's look at Royster's stats through his first 12 collegiate games.


It's no coincidence that Penn State got hot when Royster got the meaningful carries. This is no manipulation of the stats to suit my argument. Here's my breakdown of each of Royster's performances in 2007:

*FIU: This really was just mop-up duty, so it's not that insignificant that Royster ran against one of the worst teams in football.
*ND: PSU got rolling after a late wake-up call. Royster saw action, but didn't get any carries. Wouldn't affect the outcome anyway.
*Buff: Did not play, despite the fact that the PSU running backs were horrendous.
*Mich: Royster only got one carry for one freaking yard. PSU could have used that spark in this one, especially since no one could hold on to the ball.
*Illini: PSU moved the ball well in this one, thus negating Royster's possible affect on the game. Morelli was the difference maker, not the running backs.
*Iowa: Well, it's about freaking time! I'm sorry, I liked Austin Scott, but he was a detriment to this football team. Royster explodes on national TV, against a team PSU hadn't beaten in five tries.
*Wisc: Seeing the possibilities, and partly out of necessity, PSU starts playing Royster more. If there was one play in 2007 that exemplified Royster's season, it was the 25-yard touchdown run on 4th and 1.
*Ind: Now he was on a tear with three straight games with 68+ yards. He kept the chains moving in crutial situations.
*OSU: Just when you thought things were turning around, the door slams shut. Royster gets only four carries and never gets in a rhythm.
*PU: Royster fires back with vengance. His long touchdown jaunt in the fourth quarter essentially shuts the door on the Boilermakers. His first 100-yard day.
*TU: Hampered by injury, but luckily PSU didn't need him.
*MSU: This one hurt for everyone, but none more than Royster. Reaggrivated his injury.

Notice the pattern? When Royster rushed for more than 68 yards, PSU went 5-0.

Again, let me reitterate that I'm not manipulating these stats just to pad my argument. Some of Royster's biggest games came against good opponents. In case you've forgotten, Wisconsin is currently ranked, Indiana is going to a bowl game, and Iowa's defense was pretty good up until late in the season.

I hope this doesn't turn out to be another Scott situation, where Royster fizzles. But I have a really good feeling about this one. Imagine Daryll Clark and Royster running the Texas-spread (or M-Rob-spread) in 2008...