Bill Royce
No. 85
PositionDefensive end
Class1993
Personal information
Born: (1971-07-14) July 14, 1971
Mount Gilead, Ohio
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight255 lb (116 kg)
Career history
CollegeAshland (1990-93)
High schoolNorthmor
College Football Hall of Fame (2016)

Bill Royce (born July 14, 1971) is a former college football player for Ashland University. During his time with Ashland, Royce set the university record for most sacks from the 1991 to 1993 seasons. He ended his college football career in 1993 and set a National Collegiate Athletic Association career record with 71 sacks. In 2016, Royce was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

Royce was born on July 14, 1971, in Mount Gilead, Ohio.[1] During the late 1980s, he was on the football team for Northmor High School.[2] While with the team, Royce was a linebacker and wide receiver.[3] In 1986, he was their "most improved" football player.[4] Royce was on "the 1988 United Press International Division V all-Ohio football team."[5] That year, he received a varsity letter.[6] Overall, Royce accumulated 2839 yards.[2]

With the Lexington Lions All-Stars, Royce played in the 1989 McDonald's Football Classic.[7][8] Outside of football, he participated in athletics while at Northmour.[9] As a Class A athlete, he entered the Ohio High School Athletic Association championship in 1989.[10][11] At the event, he had top eight finishes in the shotput and discus.[12][13] With a scholarship, Royce signed to Ashland College that year.[9] Royce studied business administration at Ashland during the 1990s.[14]

Career

With Ashland, Royce held the record for most sacks per season from 1991 to 1993. He also played in the 1994 Snow Bowl.[15] After his time with the Ashland Eagles, Royce set the National Collegiate Athletic Association career sacks record with 71 sacks. Outside of football, Royce also competed in the throwing events of track and field.[16]

Apart from his college football career, Royce worked as a construction sales representative from 2001 to 2011. In 2011, he became a sales manager for a South Dakota construction company.[17]

Awards and honors

In 1991, Royce was named Best Defensive Back for Ashland.[18] He won the Defensive Lineman of the Year award as part of the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference in 1992 and 1993.[19] Royce was also the Player of the Year for the conference in 1993.[20] Royce was on The Associated Press Little All-America team during 1992 and 1993.[21][22]

He was nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy in both of these years.[23][24] Royce was inducted into the Ashland University Hall of Fame in 2005[25] and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "William Anthony Royce". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Players headed for Ashland". News-Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. April 15, 1989. p. 4-B.
  3. ↑ Spencer, Jon (October 7, 1987). "'Air Ball'". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. pp. 1–E, 5–E.
  4. ↑ "Northmor honors fall athletes". The Gallon Inquirer. November 12, 1986. p. Eight.
  5. ↑ Caddes, Gene (December 9, 1988). "Area gridders are given honors". The Bryan Times. United Press International. p. 14.
  6. ↑ "3 Knights awarded 3rd letters". The Marion Star. November 16, 1988. p. 14.
  7. ↑ Grove, Phil (June 29, 1989). "Jeffries, Royce to put forth team effort". The Galion Inquirer. p. 10.
  8. ↑ McHale, T.E. (July 2, 1989). "North cuts South off at the 'pass' in gird rout". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. pp. 1-D, 13-D.
  9. 1 2 "Northmor's Royce to play for Ashland". The Galion Inquirer. April 12, 1989. p. 8.
  10. ↑ Spencer, Jon (June 21, 1989). "'Rolls' is a Cadillac". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. pp. 1–B, 4–B.
  11. ↑ "Chasing state championships". The Marion Star. June 2, 1989. p. 11.
  12. ↑ Spencer, Jon (June 3, 1989). "State Placers". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. p. 4-B.
  13. ↑ Grove, Phil (June 5, 1989). "Northmour's Miley wins state crown". The Galion Inquirer. p. 6.
  14. ↑ Harmer, Andrew (January 9, 2016). "Bill Royce becomes first Ashland University player to make Hall of Fame". Times-Gazette. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Bill Royce". National Football Foundation. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  16. ↑ Cavadi, Wayne (January 15, 2016). "College football: Ashland defensive great Bill Royce to enter CFB Hall of Fame". NCAA. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens Adds to Sales Staff". Construction & Demolition Recycling. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  18. ↑ "AU football awards". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. December 4, 1991. p. 3-C.
  19. ↑ "Royce, Martinelli honored". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. November 24, 1993. p. 4-B.
  20. ↑ "Bill Royce receives more accolades". The Galion Inquirer. December 2, 1993. p. 8.
  21. ↑ "Mount Union duo on AP All-America". The Beacon Journal. Associated Press. December 18, 1992. p. B5.
  22. ↑ Warner, Rick (December 17, 1993). "UNA back named Little All-America". The Anniston Star. Associated Press. p. 7B.
  23. ↑ "Texans named among Hill finalists". The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise. Associated Press. November 5, 1992. p. 6.
  24. ↑ "Ashland's Royce is Harlon Hill candidate". The Akron Beacon Journal. November 5, 1993. p. B4.
  25. ↑ "Ashland University Hall of Famers" (PDF). Ashland University Eagles. August 31, 2021. p. 4. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
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