North Carolina Central University Athletics

NCCU CAREER (2017-19)

• Voted 2019 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. [Story]
• Named 2019 BOXTOROW Willie Davis Defensive Player of the Year as top defensive player in HBCU football.
• Selected as 2019 Phil Steele MEAC Defensive Player of the Year (Postseason and Preseason), and 2019 Phil Steele FCS All-American (fourth team).
• Named to the 2019 STATS FCS All-America Team (third team).
• Two-time All-MEAC selection (First Team in 2019 / Third Team in 2018).
• Topped MEAC with 16.0 tackles for a loss and 9.0 sacks in 2019.
• Led MEAC in forced fumbles in both 2019 (3) and 2018 (4).
• His 9.0 sacks (7 solo/4 assisted) in 2019 were more than any other NCCU Eagle in the past 35 years.
• His 75 tackles in 2019 were the most among NCCU defensive linemen in 25 years.
• Amassed career-high 12 tackles versus Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 10, 2019).
• Broke the school record for most tackles for loss in a game with 6.0 TFL versus Prairie View A&M (Sept. 2, 2018) in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
• Graduated from NCCU in May 2019 with bachelor's degree in psychology; studying for a second degree in criminal justice. 

2019 - REDSHIRT SENIOR SEASON
Started all 12 games at defensive end. Voted All-MEAC First Team and MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. Named 2019 BOXTOROW Willie Davis Defensive Player of the Year as top defensive player in HBCU football. Named to Phil Steele All-MEAC Team (First Team), MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, and FCS All-American (fourth team). Selected to the STATS FCS All-America Team as a member of the third team. Topped MEAC with 16.0 tackles for a loss, 9.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Ranked ninth in the league with 75 tackles as the only defensive lineman positioned in the top-20. His 9.0 sacks (7 solo/4 assisted) are more than any other NCCU Eagle in the past 35 years, and his 75 tackles are the most among NCCU defensive linemen in 25 years. Amassed career-high 12 tackles versus Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 10), including 2.5 hits for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Registered a tackle for loss in 10 straight games from Sept. 7 through Nov. 16. Named to Preseason All-MEAC First Team. Selected as the MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by Phil Steele's College Football Preview Magazine. Earned undergraduate degree from NCCU in May 2019. 

2018 - SENIOR SEASON
Played in all 11 games, including 9 as a starting defensive end. Voted All-MEAC Third Team. Led the MEAC and ranked ninth in the nation (FCS) with 4 forced fumbles. Tied for second in the conference and ranked 15th in the nation with a team-high 17.0 tackles for a loss, and tied for fifth in the league with a team-best 5.0 sacks. Finished third on the squad with 58 total takedowns, 39 of which were unassisted. Broke the school record for most tackles for loss in a game with 6.0 TFL among his season-best 10 total tackles versus Prairie View A&M (Sept. 2) in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Registered 5.0 stops for a loss at S.C. State (Nov. 24).

2017 - JUNIOR SEASON
Appeared in five games during his first season at NCCU. Tallied two solo tackles.
 

---

VIDEO: The Darius Royster Story (Nov. 9, 2019) 

Q&A with NCCU senior defensive end Darius Royster (Nov. 9, 2019)

"After being cut by Norfolk State, Darius Royster becomes a star defender at NC Central" by Jonas Pope IV, News & Observer (Nov. 8, 2019)