Royce McKinney is a naïve of River Rouge, Michigan and attended River Rouge High School. The 6’02” and 180 pounds high school star was recruited by Coach LeRoy “Red Top” Smith in 1971 to attend KSU.

Upon arrival at KSU, Royce instantly helped improve the defensive side of the game. By the third game of his freshman season, his hard work won him the starting positive as defensive back. He was very aggressive checking opposing receivers. Because of how hard he played on defense, the team selected him as the 1971 Thorobred “Freshman Player of the Year”. During an interview with the State Journal, he showed supreme self-confidence in his ability, and predicted he would become an All-American by his senior year. He ended the season win 38 solo tackles and 53 assisted tackles. His play helped the Thorobreds to an 8 win – 2 loss season and an invitation to play in Miami at the Orange Blossom Bowl against Florida A&M University.

Royce earned four Athletic Letters during his career at KSU and several other awards for his outstanding play. In 1973 and 1974, he was voted the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Back. His strong play also earned him the team’s overall “Most Valuable Player” in 1974. He was appointed defensive captain in both 1973 and 1974.

KSU was independent and not in an athletic conference during the time Royce played on the team. There was a lack statistics kept at KSU for many years, but in Royce senior year hr had a phenomenal season. As a defensive back, he intercepted three passes and returned them for a total of 131 yards for an average of 43.7 yards. He had 10 individual tackles, 33 assistant tackles and swatted away 23 enemy passes. He helped the team to another 8 win – 2 lose season in four years.

Royce was also one of the best special team players on the team. He proved his versatility by returning kickoffs and finishing fourth nationally in punt returns with 12 for a total of 205 yards for an average of 17.1 yards per return. His longest punt return was 69 yards. Two of those returns were for touchdowns.

Royce ended his career with eight school records, including a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown against Wayne State University (Detroit, MI) on November 17, 1973.

Because of Royce outstanding senior year, his prediction became reality. He earned second team NAIA All-American honors and was an NAIA All-District 24 winner.

In the summer of 1975, Royce was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the ninth round before being traded to the Buffalo Bills. He only played two seasons in the National Football League. He returned home to received two master’s degrees from the University of Detroit in Religious Studies and Criminal Justice.

Professionally, Royce was passionate about reducing recidivism in the prison system. He retired in early 2019, after working over 35 years as a parole and probation officer and later as a supervisor for the State of Michigan Department of Corrections. He ended his career with the Department of Health and Human Services.

On December 20, 2019, Royce passed away in Metro Detroit. He was married for 39 years to his wife Regina. He had two adult children, Romonda and Royce.