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Shavon Revel

ECU CB Shavon Revel Declares For 2025 Draft

November 22nd, 2024 at 7:58pm CST by Ely Allen

One of the first 2025 NFL Draft prospects we talked about this year, East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel is also one of the first to officially declare for the draft, forgoing his final year of collegiate eligibility, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Revel made headlines back in September when what would become his final year of college football came to an early end after only three games due to a torn ACL.

Revel’s rise through the football ranks was a rapid one, though it took a moment to jumpstart. Out of high school, Revel went the junior college route, making his mark at Louisburg College. Despite starring for the Hurricanes of Louisburg, Revel didn’t attract much attention, ranking as a three-star JuCo recruit before signing with the Pirates. Even in his first year in Greenville, Revel was quiet, tallying only eight tackles.

Revel’s college breakout occurred the next year. As a junior, Revel earned a stubborn reputation as the AAC’s lockdown cornerback. He only picked off one pass that year, but his 13 passes defensed led the conference. He was electric, finding his way into the offensive backfield for four tackles for loss and a sack and returning a fumble for a touchdown. It was thought that, after his dominant season, offenses wouldn’t test him as much in 2024. Instead, Revel answered a continuing challenge with two passes defensed and two interceptions — one returned 50 yards for a touchdown — in only three contests.

Despite missing almost the entire 2024 season, Revel still ranks extremely high in early prospect rankings. When the injury occurred, ESPN ranked Revel as the second-best cornerback prospect (not including Colorado’s two-way player Travis Hunter, who announced his intentions to declare yesterday) and the 14th-best overall prospect. Dane Brugler of The Athletic and ESPN’s Mel Kiper both have Revel trailing only Michigan’s Will Johnson and Hunter at the cornerback position now.

Brugler’s ranking (from before the injury) has Revel the highest at 12th overall, while Kiper dropped him a bit down to 23rd. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) dropped him the hardest, at 35th overall, and ranked Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who also suffered a season-ending injury, and Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos ahead of him.

Revel’s ideal frame, impressive speed, and elite ability to locate the ball in the air have been enough to keep scouts interested despite his injury. Teams will be keeping a close eye on his recovery over the next few months, but Revel is still likely to hear his name called in the first two rounds of the draft. After drawing early comparisons to another Group of 5 talent in Quinyon Mitchell, who has excelled as a rookie out of Toledo, Revel has a good chance of getting selected on the first night of the draft.

Top CB Prospect Shavon Revel Tears ACL

September 20th, 2024 at 10:06pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s way too early in the season to be producing any significant draft content. Unlike last year, when Caleb Williams was Sharpied in as the No. 1 overall pick shortly after the prior year’s draft, there doesn’t appear to be any sure things in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Still, one of college football’s most exciting cornerbacks, Shavon Revel of East Carolina, was a good bet to be a Day 1 selection. That draft stock took a hit today with a torn ACL that will end Revel’s senior season, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Revel’s path in football has not been a usual one. Heading to junior college out of high school, Revel was a major piece for the Louisburg College Hurricanes. Still, he didn’t jump off the page as a JuCo recruit, and as a three-star corner, Revel signed with the nearby Pirates.

His first year with the team didn’t amount to much as he appeared in nine games and only totaled eight tackles. Revel broke out in his junior year last season. He gained a reputation as a lockdown corner in the AAC, recording 13 passes defensed and an interception. His electricity showed up all over the field, helping him tally four tackles for loss, a sack, and a fumble return for a touchdown, as well. His senior season was off to a hot start, too. In only three games, Revel already had two passes defensed and two interceptions, including one that he returned for a 50-yard touchdown.

ESPN’s draft specialists were extremely high on Revel in early rankings. Mel Kiper listed him as the second-best cornerback prospect behind only Michigan corner Will Johnson (and, technically, Colorado’s Travis Hunter). Jordan Reid, Matt Miller, and Field Yates all ranked Revel in their top-five players at the position, as well, with Reid even tagging him as the No. 14 overall player in the class.

It’ll be interesting to see how the injury impacts Revel’s draft stock moving forward. Revel was being compared to another top Group of 5 talent in Quinyon Mitchell, a first-round pick for the Eagles this past year. With elite size at 6-foot-3, 193 pounds, and amazing production in the short sample of a year where most expected quarterbacks to avoid him, Revel will almost certainly hear his name called at some point next April. Exactly when he hears his name called, though, will depend on his recovery and his interviews in the pre-draft process.