Heartbreak for ECU: Top 6-foot-3 and 193 pounds Prospects Face ACL Tear Ahead of NFL Draft And More

East Carolina senior cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., a leading prospect for the upcoming NFL draft, suffered an ACL tear during practice this week and will be sidelined for the rest of the season, sources informed ESPN.

Revel has been one of the most outstanding corners in the nation for the Pirates, recording 11 pass breakups and two defensive touchdowns since the beginning of 2023, including a notable 50-yard interception return against Appalachian State last week.

A source described the injury as a “freak accident” that happened to his left knee during Wednesday’s practice.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has ranked Revel as the No. 2 cornerback prospect in the upcoming draft, just behind Will Johnson from Michigan. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jordan Reid has placed him at No. 14 overall on his prospect list.

Choosing to stay at East Carolina this season, Revel turned down several lucrative transfer opportunities to premier college football programs.

“He has the potential to be this year’s Quinyon Mitchell,” noted an NFL scout familiar with Revel, referring to the former Toledo cornerback who was a first-round pick in the 2024 draft. “He’s as talented as they come in a Group of 5 conference.”

Almost every NFL team has sent scouts to evaluate Revel this season, including area scouts, national scouts, and scouting directors, underscoring his impressive talent.

Revel was projected as a first-round pick, with the NFL scout expressing surprise at his two interceptions this season, noting he expected quarterbacks to avoid targeting him.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 193 pounds, Revel earned second-team All-AAC honors last year, gaining attention from numerous SEC and Big Ten programs.

“The size, length, and movement skills he possesses at his height are remarkable,” said the NFL scout, highlighting Revel’s unique athleticism.

Revel’s journey to East Carolina included working overnight shifts at an Amazon facility and attending Louisburg College, a junior college in North Carolina. After impressing at an ECU camp with a 4.4 second 40-yard dash, he received an offer from the Pirates.

After a standout season, particularly in his first start against Michigan, Revel quickly attracted interest from power conference teams, validating ECU’s decision to keep him on the roster.

Everything seemed to fall into place for Revel, who had made significant offseason improvements and had emerged as one of the top players in his position in 2024, logging two interceptions and eight tackles that highlighted his agility and skill in front of NFL scouts.