Shavon Revel, a promising cornerback whose path to the NFL was paved with both adversity and determination, is on the brink of achieving his dreams. At the same time, and throughout his college athletic career, he worked a grueling warehouse job. He endured tremendous obstacles, such as a catastrophic knee injury and academic struggles. His story is an incredible tale of resilience, follow-through, and unbroken support from coaches and family.
Prior to his time at USF, Revel was the cornerbacks coach at East Carolina University (ECU). He often journeyed to Louisburg to check on Revel’s progress. This mentorship became a key asset for Revel as she sailed through the unique challenges of being a student and an athlete. Revel had to overcome a number of hardships, including failing high school. What he never wavered on was his determination to better himself.
When a large number of athletes transferred away from ECU in December, Revel opted to stick with the Pirates. He stayed receptive to possibilities, hearing pitches from organizations that approached him. That gamble certainly worked out in hindsight! He received six-figure offers from major college football brands, from SEC and Big Ten schools that just participated in the College Football Playoff.
Revel chased his athletic dreams while toiling in Amazon’s corporate headquarters. He imbued himself with one of the core tenets of the cornerback’s creed, hard work and climbing above adversity. He would sleep on the floor and, on occasion, take short slumbers in his father’s car as they waited for his dad’s shift to go home. In his steadfast commitment to his craft as evidenced in sport and in the classroom, he was exemplary. Rather than withdraw from school to concentrate on rehabilitating his knee, he kept a 3.0 GPA during his last semester.
Revel’s success hasn’t come without its hitches. His father lost consciousness while driving, resulting in a life-changing car crash. The vehicle then hit a cement divider wall. The accident caused an ACL tear, which meant that Revel would not play again that season. He had to spend six months rehabilitating before he could play football again.
The state’s head physician for professional athletes, Dr. Daniel E. Cooper, head physician for the Dallas Cowboys, performed knee surgery on Revel. This past mid-February, Dr. Cooper sent a personal message to NFL general managers, head trainers and personnel directors. He promised them that Revel would be completely cleared by summer.
“I really appreciated that he savored all the moments, the highs and the lows,” said Jules Montinar. Prior to his time at Oklahoma State, he was the cornerbacks coach at ECU. “He accepted being coached. We lost 2-10, but he did everything—played his ass off, blocked kicks, was in your face, broke up passes—you name it.
Though he faced significant injury challenges, Revel’s courage and resilience came to the fore. Montinar acknowledged Revel’s change in pace to fit the faster pace of a college game would be tough but emphasized his relentless mentality.
As one NFL scout put it, every rookie has to deal with that process of speeding the game up in their mind. He noted that this position is by far the most difficult to play in our league. Every time Revel gets knocked down, he keeps getting up and re-entering the fray. Coaches are really going to love that about him.
Revel graduated with his communications degree this past December. His elated family— his father and mother Tomecka Rapley, joined him in jubilance during the commencement ceremony. On the field, he has definitely impressed NFL scouts and prognosticators. ESPN Matt Miller even had him going as high as the second round in his most recent mock draft.
Now that it’s football 24/7, Shavon is going to thrive.” Montinar knew it without a doubt.
Revel’s journey is a quintessential American success story — he is the personification of the take-your-destiny-into-your-own-hands ideology.
“You don’t make excuses,” Revel stated emphatically. It’s just this idea of, like, you don’t blame what’s happened to you in life. You go get it. You take it. So nobody’s going to pity you.
As he prepares for the next step in his career, Revel understands the importance of resilience on and off the field.
You got to have a short memory if you’re going to play cornerback,” he said. You lose one catch, and it’s next play. You know, so you ain’t got time to be hanging your head. That’s just the way you’ve got to think when you’re out there on an island in coverage.”
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