East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel, projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, has sustained a season-ending knee injury. He injured himself during practice on Wednesday, and an MRI confirmed a torn ACL, according to sources cited by Hoist The Colours.
Revel was recently predicted to be selected 31st overall by the San Francisco 49ers in a mock draft by Pro Football Focus. He started the season strong, scoring a pick-six in a recent loss to Appalachian State and intercepting a pass against Old Dominion the week prior. Over the first three games, Revel earned an impressive 84.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, with an 87.0 coverage rating. He allowed eight catches on 21 targets for 195 yards.
At 6-3 and 193 pounds, Revel possesses the ideal attributes—length, speed, and strength—for a top NFL cornerback prospect. He was pursued by several prominent teams to enter the transfer portal last offseason but chose to remain at East Carolina for his senior year. Last season, he contributed as a backup corner and special teams player before stepping into a starting role in 2023. He played 651 snaps over 12 games, recording a fumble recovery for a touchdown, 54 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and an interception. In 2022, he achieved an 81.5 defensive grade and an 84.7 coverage grade, allowing just 19 receptions on 43 targets for 250 yards and one touchdown.
A Winston-Salem, N.C. native, Revel attended Reagan High School and then Louisburg Junior College for two seasons before transferring to East Carolina. He impressed at a prospect camp in summer 2021 with a 4.4 40-yard dash and an 11-foot broad jump, which earned him an offer from ECU. He committed shortly after as a three-star JUCO recruit in the 2022 class.
It’s uncertain how much the ACL injury will affect Revel’s draft prospects, but he was gaining momentum as a likely first-rounder. Typically, ACL recoveries take about 6-9 months, suggesting he could be ready for training camp next summer. He also had surgery for a groin injury earlier this offseason.
Revel’s injury is a significant setback for the Pirates’ 2024 season, as he often played in man coverage, allowing safeties to concentrate on other defensive responsibilities. Backup duties will fall to former North Carolina transfer Dontavius Nash, who has been practicing at cornerback since the end of spring, along with West Virginia transfer Andrew Wilson-Lamp and former UNC transfer Tymir Brown. Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Brown-Murray, a returning starter, has performed well this season, achieving a 69.2 PFF grade over 194 defensive snaps, including a 68.4 coverage grade.
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