Eddie Royal interview
by Nick Ironside
Former Virginia Tech wide receiver Eddie Royal is looking forward to running the sidelines of an NFL field on a kick return.
Nick Ironside: What was your impression of your performance last season?
Eddie Royal: I felt like I had a good year. We won the ACC Championship, and that was our goal going into the season, so we accomplished what we set out to do, and I felt like I had a big impact on our team, and I helped us get to that championship game, so I think it was a good year overall.
NI: How did the season help your draft stock?
ER: I think that it improved it, because I have good hands, I’m a good route runner.
NI: How did your senior year compare to your junior season?
ER: They were similar. All our years were pretty similar, but I felt like I was more mature of a player, and I knew the defense as soon as I got out of the huddle. I could see things happening before they did, and the game really slowed down for me.
NI: Which teams have you worked out with so far, and how have those workouts gone?
ER: I’ve worked out with Atlanta, Kansas City, the New York Jets, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cincinnati Bengals, I did a little bit with the Giants, and I felt like they all went well. I felt I was able to catch the ball real well, ran good routes, and I was able to show them my knowledge of the game in the film room.
NI: And which teams seemed most interested?
ER: I don’t know – it seems like every team that I talk to wants to draft me so right now it’s really up in the air.
NI: If you could choose your team, which team would it be?
ER: Probably the Dolphins with the first pick [laughter], but I don’t know. Whoever picks me – and I can’t say, I’m just excited to be living my dream.
NI: Where do you think you’ll go in the draft?
ER: Hopefully early. I don’t really know much about rounds, or any of that stuff. I don’t get into the projections, because a lot of people – you really don’t know. You never really know until things happen, so I really haven’t been trying to play the guessing game, but I guess we’ll find out come Saturday.
NI: What makes you stand out over other players at your position?
ER: My versatility. I can get the ball on reverses, I can pass the ball, I can return punts, I can return kicks, I can play slot receiver and I can also play on the outside. I’m a four-year starter, so I’ve got a lot of experience. I’m a polished route runner, so I know the game, I know coverages – I really see things before they happen.
NI: What are your strengths?
ER: My hands and my speed, my experience being a four-year starter. And just my blocking, my toughness – I’m really proud of myself for being a tough football player and getting a chance every game to block those linebackers and finishing plays.
NI: And what do you need to work on?
ER: Every aspect of my game because I know I’m going to be going against some of the best athletes in the world out there, so I need to refine every part of my game. And it starts with just exploding off the line, and catching every ball – that’s something that I’m going to put a lot of emphasis on.
NI: How did Coach Beamer prepare you for special teams play in the NFL?
ER: Just his scheme – I mean our special teams play book was just as big as our offensive playbook, and we had a lot of things to learn, and he taught me where to be, and how to set up blocks, and how to read blocks, and just to hit the hole – hit the hole hard because it’s going to close up quickly.
NI: And why do you think he’s so successful with special teams?
ER: He’s on of the best – he’s put me in a great position, and to be able to score – he set a lot of returns, and people to lead block on the kickoffs and that makes the team stay in and block longer, so that gives me more time and more space to be able to return. And I’ve had some great blockers out there – all the guys I’ve played with on special teams, I really think they’ve done a great job of blocking for me.
NI: What was your best memory of a kick or punt return?
ER: Probably the first one, just because I wanted to get it so bad, and it seemed like it took forever to get. And it took forever for me to get to the end zone, but it was probably the one against Duke – and they’re all so special. There’s nothing like returning a kick for a touchdown, and just running to the sidelines and seeing how happy Coach Beamer was, and just exciting the whole stadium.
NI: What was your overall impression of how you performed at the combine?
ER: I think I did a good job. I’m happy with it, but I’m not satisfied with my performance – there were a few things that I think I could have done better. But I think I was able to showcase my athletic ability, and really I wanted to take it in – the interview process. Just to get a chance to meet all the coaches that do know the game of football, and I think I did a good job with it.
NI: What do you think the most important thing the scouts look for at the combine is?
ER: I think they really want to find out what type of person you are. They do want to see your running, jumping, doing all of that. But I think it’s really the interview process because it’s pretty important with them, and it’s different then seeing them on television – you really want to get out there and see what type of person he is, and what type of person they’re going to be bringing in to the organization, so I think the interview process is really one of the most important parts of it.
NI: Do you think any of the combine workouts aren’t necessary?
ER: I feel like they are, I mean sometimes they can be looked into to much, but it’s a big stage – you want to see how a guys going to react on the big stage, and how he can perform with the lights on him, and everybody watching him, so it’s a good thing for the competitors out there, so I think it’s good – you’re competing against everybody, so just going out there and having a couple workouts – it’s really the first time for the coaches to see you in a pressure situation.
NI: How did you adjust to playing with different quarterbacks who had different strengths?
ER: You’ve just got to know their little tendencies, just like they’ve got to know whether they should throw the ball deep, or put more air under it with certain receivers, so you’ve really got to know the tendencies, you’ve got to know where they expect the ball, and how they expect the ball to come off of their hands, and it’s just the little things you’ve got to pick up on.