DEVIN ROYAL UNLEASHED: After Trimming Down, Ohio State Star Set to Elevate His Game—A Leaner, Meaner Small Forward Ready to Wreak Havoc on Opposing Defenses with Relentless Intensity and Athleticism
Devin Royal is not the same player who stepped onto the court for Ohio State last season. Over the offseason, the promising small forward undertook a physical transformation that reflects a deeper shift in his mindset, goals, and on-court demeanor. Shedding excess weight and reshaping his body into a leaner, more agile frame, Royal didn’t just trim down for aesthetics—he did it with a purpose. That purpose is to become the kind of nightmare matchup that every defender dreads: quicker, more aggressive, and absolutely relentless. Now entering the next chapter of his collegiate career, Devin Royal is locked in, and the Big Ten better take notice.
A year ago, Royal showed flashes of potential. A top-50 recruit coming out of Pickerington Central in Ohio, he was touted as a versatile scorer with the size to overpower smaller defenders and the skill to stretch the floor. But for much of his freshman season, Royal found himself adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game. He had solid moments, but something was missing—the burst, the edge, the consistent fire that separates impact players from role players. Royal knew it too. He didn’t sulk. He went to work.
Throughout the offseason, Royal committed to changing his body. With the help of Ohio State’s strength and conditioning staff, he overhauled his diet, embraced the grind in the weight room, and focused on enhancing his lateral quickness and vertical explosiveness. The result is a new physical version of the same high-upside player. Royal now moves with a fluidity that makes him far more dangerous in transition and harder to guard off the dribble. He’s quicker on closeouts, faster on rotations, and more dynamic attacking the rim. And perhaps most importantly, he’s confident. Not just in his abilities, but in the work he’s put in.
What separates Royal now is his mental approach. The transformation didn’t just cut fat; it cut hesitation. He’s not waiting to be told when to attack—he’s initiating. Whether he’s slashing through a seam in the defense or pulling up from midrange, Royal is operating with a level of aggression that wasn’t there consistently last year. This newfound motor has turned him into a two-way threat. On offense, he’s scoring more efficiently and demanding the ball in critical moments. On defense, he’s using his improved footwork and conditioning to switch onto guards and wings without missing a beat. It’s a total evolution, one born from grit and accountability.
The buzz around Royal has been steadily growing in Columbus. Teammates have noticed the shift and speak highly of his work ethic and leadership. Coaches are seeing a player who understands how to affect the game even when the ball isn’t in his hands. Whether he’s boxing out for rebounds, diving for loose balls, or communicating on defense, Royal’s presence is becoming felt in ways that go far beyond the stat sheet. He’s not just playing harder—he’s playing smarter. His basketball IQ is catching up with his natural gifts, and that’s a dangerous combination.
Ohio State’s coaching staff believes Royal is primed for a breakout season, and for good reason. With more minutes and more trust, he’s expected to be a focal point on both ends of the floor. His size and speed make him an ideal modern small forward—big enough to battle in the paint, quick enough to handle perimeter duties, and skilled enough to create his own shot. But beyond the measurables and metrics, it’s Royal’s intensity that’s drawing attention. He’s not out to be average. He’s out to dominate.
That mindset was on full display during Ohio State’s summer scrimmages and team practices. Royal wasn’t just participating—he was dictating pace, setting the tone, and holding others accountable. His voice got louder, his movements sharper. He’s become the kind of player who lifts the energy of the entire gym just by being locked in. And for a Buckeyes team looking to return to national relevance, that energy is exactly what they need.
Royal’s physical transformation has also opened up new strategic possibilities for the Buckeyes. With his increased agility, Ohio State can now play a faster, more switchable style of defense, knowing Royal can hold his own against multiple positions. On offense, they can stretch the floor with five capable scorers, using Royal’s improved mobility to exploit mismatches, cut backdoor, or flare out to the corners. He’s become a chess piece, and the staff plans to move him all over the board.
But with raised expectations comes increased responsibility. Royal is no longer the young guy learning the ropes—he’s now being counted on to produce consistently, to be a leader in moments of adversity, and to help guide a talented but still-developing Buckeyes roster. He’s embraced that challenge. In interviews, he speaks with clarity and conviction. He’s not dodging the spotlight. He’s ready for it.
It helps that Royal isn’t trying to be anyone but himself. He’s not modeling his game after NBA stars or chasing highlights. His focus is on playing winning basketball. That means making the right read, sprinting back on defense, and trusting his teammates. But that doesn’t mean he’s lost his edge. If anything, his edge is sharper than ever. You can see it in how he attacks defenders, how he fights through screens, how he celebrates big plays. There’s a fire burning now, one that wasn’t always visible before.
Opposing coaches will soon be drawing up game plans specifically to slow him down. That’s how far Royal has come. He’s no longer the under-the-radar piece—he’s the one with the target. And that’s fine by him. He didn’t transform himself to be overlooked. He did it to be the problem no one wants to deal with.
For a player like Royal, the upcoming season isn’t just about numbers. It’s about making a statement. It’s about showing that hard work pays off, that discipline and determination can elevate talent to greatness. It’s about proving that last year was just a warm-up. And if his current trajectory continues, there won’t be many in the Big Ten capable of slowing him down.
His teammates have followed his lead, picking up the pace in the gym, paying closer attention to detail, and pushing each other harder. Royal’s evolution is infectious. It’s not just about his own success—it’s about raising the standard across the board. And in a conference as competitive as the Big Ten, that kind of ripple effect can be the difference between being good and being elite.
As the season approaches, Royal remains locked in. He doesn’t care about preseason rankings or media predictions. His focus is internal—on his effort, his attitude, and his impact. Every rep in the weight room, every drill in practice, every film session is another step toward his goal. And while he’s still just beginning his journey, one thing is already clear: Devin Royal has arrived.
He’s no longer trying to fit in. He’s aiming to stand out. And with his body transformed, his mindset recalibrated, and his game ascending, Devin Royal is ready to take college basketball by storm. The question is no longer whether he’ll make an impact—it’s how big that impact will be. And if his offseason work is any indication, the answer is: massive.
In the end, Royal’s story is about more than just basketball. It’s about growth. It’s about embracing discomfort, leaning into adversity, and emerging stronger on the other side. He’s become a living example of what happens when talent meets tenacity, when potential meets preparation. And now, as the lights get brighter and the stakes get higher, Devin Royal is ready to show the world what he’s become.
Lean, mean, and locked in—Devin Royal is unleashed. And the Big Ten won’t know what hit it.
