Joe Royer Ranked Among Top NFL Draft Prospects Entering 2025 Season

Jul 8, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer answers questions from the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — Joe Royer came back to Cincinnati in part to boost his NFL draft stock for the 2026 cycle, and The Athletic's Dane Brugler sees the vision.

He ranked Royer third among all draftable tight ends entering the 2025 season. The local talent set a Bearcats tight end record with 50 catches last season for 522 yards and three touchdowns.

Brugler noted his top trait is athleticism at the catch point, while he needs to add more explosive plays to the ledger.

"A former four-star recruit, Royer was the top-ranked tight end in Ohio State’s loaded 2020 class, which also included future first-rounders C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr., and Jaxon Smith-Njigba," Brugler wrote. "After seeing a combined seven targets over three years in Columbus, Royer entered the transfer portal and headed to his hometown school. He registered 50 catches for 522 yards and three touchdowns last season, his first with the Bearcats.

"Royer considered declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft and is currently graded by NFL teams as a potential Day 2 pick in the 2026 class. With Brendan Sorsby returning at quarterback for Cincinnati, Royer has the goods to become one of the top tight ends in college football."

Royer could be Cincinnati's top receiving option this fall and is primed to have a huge 2025 season in the Big 12.

He's trying to become the first UC player taken in the opening three rounds since Tre Tucker in 2023.

Bookmark Bearcats Talk for the latest news, breakdowns, and so much more. Check out our YouTube page as well, starting with the video below.

You May Also Like:

Cincinnati Bearcats Make Top Schools List For 2026 Four-Star Center Marcis Ponder

Bearcats Basketball Finalizing SEC Matchup During 2025 Non-Conference Schedule

Sauce Gardner Signs Record-Breaking Contract Extension With New York Jets

Cincinnati Bearcats Football Adds First 2027 Commitment in Hezikiah Kelley

Cincinnati Bearcats Football Goes Through 2025 Media Day Photo Shoot

CBS Sports Names Brendan Sorsby Among Middle Tier of Big 12 Quarterbacks

Former UC Star Simas Lukošius Lands On First Pro Basketball Home Following College Career

USA Today Ranks Brendan Sorsby Among Bottom Half of Big 12 Quarterbacks

EA Sports Drops Cincinnati Bearcats Football Entrance in New Game

Cincinnati Bearcats Add Bryson Buckingham to Basketball Roster

Recruiting Roundup: Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Offers Multiple Four-Star Talents

New Cincinnati Bearcats Football Uniforms Surface

Watch: New Cincinnati Guard Sencire Harris Introduces Himself to Fanbase

Cincinnati Star Dontay Corleone Named to Walter Camp Preseason All-American Team

Cincinnati Star Dontay Corleone Rated Among Top Five Defensive Tackles in EA Sports College Football 26

Cincinnati Lands First Running Back Commitment in 2026 Football Class From Cedric Kouemi

Look: ESPN's Football Power Index Gives Bearcats Solid Shot of Ending Losing Season Streak

Report: NCAA Expanding College Basketball Season

Cincinnati Adds 17th Commitment in 2026 Football Class From Three-Star Safety Markell Taylor

Watch: New Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Forward Baba Miller Introduces Himself to Fanbase

'It's Been Crazy' - Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball GM Corey Evans Discusses Opening Months in Fresh Role

Report: Cincinnati Schedules Multi-Team Event For 2025 Non-Conference Schedule

Cincinnati Lands Hometown Commitment From Three-Star Linebacker Adam Kirtley

Cincinnati Adds 15th Commitment in 2026 Football Class With Three-Star Defensive Tackle Johnathan Rulo

Recruiting Roundup: Cincinnati Basketball Offers Five-Star 2027 Forward Moussa Kamissoko

Cincinnati Football Brings in 11th Commitment to 2026 Class

'It's Limitless' - Scott Satterfield Gives Pointed Examples Of How UC Football Can Grow Tighter With Sheakley IPF

Three-Star 2026 Wide Receiver Jayden Kitchens Places Cincinnati Among Top Three Schools

Report: Dayton, Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Continuing Rivalry Matchups

Cincinnati Basketball Home-And-Home Big 12 Opponents Revealed For 2025-26 Season

Watch: Sheakley Indoor Practice Facility and Athletics Performance Center Tour

Look: Cincinnati Unveils Finished Sheakley Indoor Practice Facility and Performance Center

Look: Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Stars Together on Court to Spark Summer Workouts

Cincinnati Football Commit Derek Uran Flips to Virginia

Look: Cincinnati Bearcats Among Best Schools at Developing NFL Draft Talent This Decade

Cincinnati Baseball Makes NCAA Tournament For First Time This Decade

Look: Top 2025 Cincinnati Recruit Shon Abaev Arrives in Town For Freshman Year

Watch: Travis, Jason Kelce Accept Fun UC-Nebraska Podcast Challenge

Recruiting Roundup: Cincinnati Football, Basketball Send Out Four-Star Offers

Bill Connelly's SP+ Metric Ranks Cincinnati Football as Big 12's Worst Team Following Spring Transfer Cycle

Watch: Bearcats Football Star Brendan Sorsby Discusses Offseason at Ball & Brew Event

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on Bearcats Talk all the time!

Follow Bearcats Talk on Twitter: @BearcatsTalk

Like Bearcats Talk on Facebook: Bearcats Talk