Elder TE, Joe Royer is not only a great player on the field, but a great friend off the field. While the 6′-5″ Afro’ed human being is known for his accolades on the football field, his humble nature is what many people really appreciate about Joe.

Season Stats

His 815 yards receiving this season is good for second in the GCL behind St. X wide receiver, Liam Clifford. In nine games of play, he’s scored nine TD’s while averaging 18.1 yards per catch. Royer is definitely one of Elder’s most powerful threats on the field, as he accounts for about 90 yards on offense per game.

“This season has been really great so far. We had high expectations going into the season and we are working to get better everyday and we are looking forward to winning our first out right GCL title since 2008,” stated Royer when asked about the ongoing season.

Due to his success on the field this season, he has earned a selective invitation to the 2020 Polynesian Bowl in Oahu, Hawaii. The All-Star showcase will take place Saturday, January 18th at Aloha Stadium.

This prestigious event offers some of the best high school recruits in the country an opportunity to showcase their talents on a national stage. Royer, among several other Ohio State commits will be attending in January. Other local products include: 5 star OT, Paris Johnson Jr. (Princeton) and K/P, Jake Seibert (LaSalle).

When asked what this meant to him, Royer answered, “It’s a great honor and I’m super thankful to be recognized as one of the top athletes in the country.”

Coaches

Not only will Royer be exposed to other great athletes on the field, but a well-renowned coaching staff will be on hand as well. This year’s selected head coaches are Steve Spurrier (Team Mauka) and Frank Beamer (Team Makai).

While coaching at South Carolina, Florida, and Duke, Spurrier held an overall record of 228-89-2. He is recognized as the winningest coach in South Carolina history and later went on to coach for the Washington Redskins. On top of his coaching career, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1966.

Beamer on the other hands, coached for Virgina Tech and Murray State while winning three ACC championships as well as four titles in the Big East. He is recognized as the winningest coach in VA Tech history and was named the Associated Press coach of the year in 1999. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and serves as a member of the College Football Playoff Committee.

Alongside historic coaches Spurrier and Beamer, others at the game include NFL ambassadors Marcus Mariota, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Michael Bennett just to name a few.

When asked about what he’s most looking forward to Royer said, “I’m looking forward to going to Hawaii because I have always wanted to go there and also getting to meet players like JuJu and Tua Tagovailoa while competing against some of the best players in the country.”

With the experience comes a plethora of fashionable gear. Royer told me that he’s excited to see what they send him.

Tunnel Vision

Although this is a huge accomplishment, his focus still remains on the current season and what lies ahead for the Panthers come playoff time. After a nice run in the playoffs last year, confidence that this year’s journey will end the way they set out in the beginning of the year remains constant.

Congrats to Joe for representing the school well in receiving this honor, now just go catch some tuddies while you’re down there.

I’ll end it with this quote from Royer’s long time quarterback since first grade, Matthew Luebbe.

“He’s been my go to guy my whole life and one hell of a security blanket to throw to.”

Gallery • 3 Photos

Royer and Postel celebrate TD (elderphotos)