Success isn’t a straight line — and Shavon Revel Jr. is aware of that higher than most.
Revel, the East Carolina cornerback who ranks No. 32 on The Athletic’s most up-to-date 2025 NFL Draft board, is on the doorstep of a professional profession with the scouting mix underway. And it’s largely as a result of his spectacular mixture of dimension (6 foot 2, 188 kilos) and pace (projected 4.3-second 40-yard sprint).
The mix is the place an athletic marvel like Revel ought to shine. As an alternative of displaying off his expertise for NFL groups, although, he shall be a spectator when defensive backs work out at Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend, as he continues to work his method again from the torn ACL and partial meniscus tear he suffered in September.
GO DEEPER
Will Campbell and 15 different NFL Draft prospects with one thing to show on the mix
However adversity is nothing new for Revel, who sees this newest hurdle as simply the subsequent chapter in his journey.
“There have been a whole lot of factors the place I might’ve given up,” Revel informed The Athletic. “However I can’t hand over on the game I like.”
Then a quarterback and cornerback at Reynolds Excessive in Winston-Salem, N.C., Revel had his sophomore season come to an abrupt — and almost tragic — finish.
After apply one evening, Revel was in a automotive along with his two brothers when his father, Shavon Revel Sr. (who additionally goes by Keith), suffered a extreme coughing match and briefly blacked out behind the wheel. The automotive collided with a cement wall beneath an overpass.
“We didn’t know what occurred,” Revel Sr. stated. “All I do know is once I seemed within the again seat, it seemed like there was a gap in (Shavon Jr.’s) head.”
All 4 family members survived the crash, however Shavon Revel Jr. suffered a fractured cranium, which required surgical procedure, in addition to a bruised jaw and neck, and a damaged nostril that wanted 28 stitches. Identical to that, his soccer season was over.
It took almost six months of rehab for Revel to return to a traditional bodily routine, however he made it again onto the soccer subject in time for his junior season — the important thing yr for faculty recruiting. A number of Division I applications confirmed curiosity in him, just for a damaged collarbone suffered halfway by way of the season to sideline him once more.
By that time, Revel additionally was combating an uphill tutorial battle. He admits now that he was in all probability too football-focused in highschool — all he needed to do was carry, apply and play ball — and his grades suffered due to that singular focus.
“I wasn’t the most effective pupil my freshman and sophomore yr,” stated Revel, who transferred to Reagan Excessive, additionally in Winston-Salem, for his senior season. “I did very well my junior and senior years, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to drag up my GPA.
“I take accountability for that.”
GO DEEPER
2025 NFL Draft Huge Board: Who’re the highest 100 prospects on this yr’s class?
Between his accidents and points within the classroom, Revel noticed the curiosity in him from recruiters dry up. As his prep profession ended, he had no Division I presents on the desk, so Revel signed with Louisburg Faculty — a small, two-year junior faculty in rural North Carolina. His plan was to get his grades so as, then switch as much as an FBS college.
However the COVID-19 pandemic compelled the cancellation of Revel’s first season at Louisburg in 2020. He had no extra recreation tape to ship to colleges, no actual probability to show he belonged on an even bigger stage.
To remain busy and make cash, Revel joined his father and began working in 2021 at an Amazon warehouse in Kernersville, N.C.
His once-promising soccer profession was caught — and that maintain began to really feel prefer it may be everlasting.
“I simply wanted to get him on the sector in entrance of some coaches.”
That was Shavon Revel Sr.’s mindset because the pandemic robbed his son of his freshman yr at Louisburg. A seven-on-seven coach who knew Revel Jr. had the expertise to make it, Revel Sr. signed up the annoyed cornerback for a number of prospect camps. One, in June 2021, took the Revels to Greenville, N.C.
Recent off a 10-hour shift that ran from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., father and son made the drive to East Carolina’s campus, with the hope that somebody would take discover of Revel Jr.’s abilities — however no actual expectations that the camp would result in something. Revel Sr. discovered a spot within the bleachers and watched as his son began working by way of drills.
“Once I noticed him run his 40-yard sprint, the coach just about chased him down,” Revel Sr. stated. “I knew it was excellent news.”
Revel Jr. ran a 4.40-second 40 and complemented it with an 11-foot broad soar and 39-inch vertical. He additionally accomplished positional drills as each a security and cornerback. As Revel Sr. can attest, it didn’t take the East Carolina coaches lengthy to comprehend they’d one thing.
Ultimately, they promised Revel Jr. a scholarship — if he improved his grades throughout his second yr at Louisburg. Revel lived as much as his aspect of the discount, raised his GPA and enrolled at East Carolina for the 2022 season, hoping to make an influence immediately.
As an alternative, he bumped into extra obstacles. Revel broke his hand throughout fall camp, which left him taking part in catch-up all through that first season with the Pirates — most of his snaps in ’22 got here on particular groups. That very same yr, his oldest sister, Shaqueria Carson, died after affected by kidney failure.
Revel wound up taking part in in 9 video games throughout his debut East Carolina season, making eight tackles.
Shavon Revel Jr. had 54 tackles and 13 passes defended throughout a breakout 2023 season. (Picture courtesy of East Carolina College)
However then, lastly, the celebrities aligned for Experience 2023. He earned a beginning nook spot throughout camp, then went on to steer the Pirates with 13 passes defended and two blocked subject objectives. He additionally picked off a go, which he returned 57 yards for a landing. Simply two years after chasing down a shot within the FBS, Revel had NFL scouts taking discover of his rise.
A number of big-time faculty applications began poking round Revel, too, hoping to persuade him to switch forward of the 2024 season. He heard from colleges corresponding to Alabama, Texas, LSU and Penn State, all of which have been able to pounce with large identify, picture and likeness packages nicely into six figures. Nobody would have blamed Revel had he jumped into the switch portal and tried to capitalize on his ’23 success.
Nevertheless, Revel approached the scenario — hectic because it was — along with his personal perspective.
“In fact, (transferring) popped in my head as a result of I used to be being supplied some huge cash,” Revel stated. “However my mother and pa and the best way they labored for every part they obtained, I made a decision to remain at ECU. I simply didn’t agree with youngsters being handed that sort of cash. I needed to earn it.”
Revel declined these profitable NIL presents and returned to East Carolina for his senior season, decided to additional elevate his draft inventory.
Only a few weeks into the 2024 season, although, Revel suffered a non-contact knee harm throughout apply — an ACL tear that required reconstructive surgical procedure. As destiny would have it, NFL scouts had been out to East Carolina’s apply that day the harm occurred and expressed to Revel their pleasure about his improvement.
SHAVON REVEL TO THE HOUSE!!#AmericanWay x @ECUPiratesFB pic.twitter.com/4Ciygq8se0
— The American (@American_Conf) September 14, 2024
Revel flew to Dallas for the surgical procedure, which was carried out by Dr. Daniel Cooper, head doctor of the Cowboys. Now, 5 months faraway from his process, Revel is progressing by way of pre-draft coaching in Prosper, Texas, and appears like he’s in an excellent place. He will be unable to work out on the NFL Scouting Mix however expects to be absolutely recovered earlier than the common season opens in September. (Cooper reportedly despatched NFL groups a letter this week, confirming that Revel is “on schedule for full return to play this summer season.”)
“My dad all the time taught us to be robust,” Revel stated. “Lots of people have it worse than us.”
When NFL groups sit all the way down to interview prospects, they all the time need to discover out what adversities they’ve needed to overcome and the way they’ve responded to these attempting moments. Revel has picked himself up off the mat quite a lot of instances and has remained undeterred — a mindset that ought to serve him nicely as he will get prepared for the subsequent degree.
“The one factor you’ll by no means get with Shavon,” Revel Sr. stated, “is a quitter. You will have my solemn phrase on that.”
The Athletic has dwell protection of the 2025 NFL mix.
(High photograph courtesy of East Carolina College)