I've been you tubing games of late and notably games from 2008-2010 have been airing. Evan Royster was much better than I gave him credit. He seemed to take himself out out games for nagging little things and then we were subjected to Stephon Green running into one of his linemen (I know, I know, I'm exaggerating). The winning drive against OSU in 2008 was all Royster and a game against Michgan in either 2009 or 2010 he was unstoppable. Well done Evan
Evan Royster
- Thread starter olelion
- Start date
That ‘08 team specifically was a joy to watch.
my recollection he was in Joe dog house start of senior year? he did not spend summer on campus working out and there was speculation and consternation about him not being in shape when he returned for camp.
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I remember Royster being a patient runner. He would get in behind a couple of linemen and look for the hole. Once he found it, he would get chunks of yards. Not so flashy, but smart and steady.
His vision was good because he played lacrosse.
He had very good balance and was stronger than many thought.
He was a good receiver out of the backfield as well
So in that 2008 Michigan game at home when Royster runs wild, there's a kickoff return by a Caucasian tailback named McGuffie from Michigan. Mauti drills him so hard that I think it may have prematurely ended they guy's career, similar to the Bob Stephens/Dadrion Taylor collision on the sideline in 1997. I remember thinking that Mauti was going to be a real player after the collision and fumble. Anybody else remember that kick return? Its always stuck with me.
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Yes. I was there. You could hear the pop in the whole stadium.
Did well escaping backfield hits and fell forward. Good blocker and receiver.
I loved Royster. Smooth, great at reading the holes. If he was just half a step faster he would have been special.
Miles Sanders was a stud who just got stuck behind Barkley.
It also define Silas Redd. He got through the hole quickly, but at the expense of maintaining balance.
Another RB that I feel was underrated was Rodney Kinlaw.
No. Just no.
That Iowa game was maybe the most painful game of this century.
Yes, a colonoscopy performed by a drunk using a rusty axe.
I really do pity the guys who were in the stands that day. I was otherwise engaged during the game so only had the opportunity to check the final score.
Edit: I thought you were talking about 6-4.
Love him. Underrated RB. Works here in Leesburg VA as a wealth manager. Very nice man.
It was awful, but at least we knew we sucked that year.
The thing I remember about Royster is that he stayed low and fell forward for an extra yard or two after contact. He wasn't a bull like Curtis Enis or Aaron Harris but he somehow used leverage and seemed to fall forward.
The coaching staff. 100% that game was on the coaching staff.
Respectfully disagree. While cruel and unusual to watch, hopes and dreams went home intact that day.* This was not so on 11/8/2008.
*unless your dream was for the hapless 2004 offense to not suck on 10/23/2004
I loved Aaron Harris. If only he didn't have the knee injury, he would have been legendary.
Put Tony Hunt in that group.
One of the best student section banners of all time was “Blue Royster Cult”
Kinlaw gets overlooked because he only had one season as the starter (2007), and it was sandwiched between the Tony Hunt and Evan Royster eras. He had 1300+ yards that season.
I find it rather odd that you inserted the adjective Caucasian to define a tailback from Michigan.
Most normal people don’t assign skin colors or race while trying to describe other people.
Why did you do that?
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I really would have liked to see what Journey Brown would have done his senior year.
Will forever remember Hunt putting a beating on the Vols defense
instead of tall, fat or without one leg?I find it rather odd that you inserted the adjective Caucasian to define a tailback from Michigan.
Most normal people don’t assign skin colors or race while trying to describe other people.
Why did you do that?
a while TB in cfb is somewhat odd and memorable that's all
I thought about Tony Hunt, their stats are very similar....I think you could go either way. Others mentioned Miles Sanders....from a talent perspective, maybe a more talented RB, but he didn't have the productivity as Royster(I understand the Oline was poor), he fumbled a bit if I remember, and I thought he always tried to bounce runs outside when he didnt need to
The only reason Sanders didn't have Royster's productivity is because he sat behind Barkley for 2 years and only had one season (2018) as the starter.