East Carolina cornerback , projected as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, has suffered a season-ending knee injury. During practice on Wednesday, he went down, and an MRI confirmed a torn ACL, according to sources from Hoist The Colours.
Revel was recently projected to be picked 31st overall by the San Francisco 49ers in a mock draft from Pro Football Focus. He started the season strongly, recording a pick-six in a recent game against Appalachian State and intercepting a pass the week before against Old Dominion. He achieved an impressive 84.7 grade from Pro Football Focus over his first three games, with an 87.0 coverage grade, allowing eight receptions on 21 targets for 195 yards.
At 6’3″ and 193 pounds, Revel possesses the ideal combination of length, speed, and strength for an NFL cornerback. Many prominent teams pursued him in the transfer portal last offseason, but he chose to remain at East Carolina for his senior year.
In the 2022 season, Revel served as a backup cornerback and contributed on special teams before stepping into a starting role in 2023. He played 651 snaps across 12 games, recording a fumble recovery for a touchdown, 54 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and an interception. Last season, he earned an 81.5 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, including 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 years before transferring to East Carolina. He impressed at a prospect camp in summer 2021, running a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and achieving an 11-foot broad jump, leading to an ECU offer. He committed soon after as a three-star JUCO prospect in the 2022 class.
The impact of his ACL injury on his draft stock remains uncertain, though he was gaining momentum as a first-round candidate. Recovery from an ACL injury typically takes 6-9 months, suggesting he could be ready for training camp next summer. He also underwent surgery for a groin injury this past offseason.
Revel’s injury is a significant setback for the Pirates in 2024. He frequently played man coverage, allowing the safeties to focus on run support or the opposite side of the field. With his absence, former North Carolina transfer Dontavius Nash, who was a part-time starting safety last year and has been working at corner, may step up. West Virginia transfer Andrew Wilson-Lamp and former UNC transfer Tymir Brown could also see more playing time. Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Brown-Murray, a returning starter, has performed well this season, holding a 69.2 PFF grade over 194 defensive snaps, including a 68.4 coverage grade.
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