FRISCO, Texas — The journey to get to the NFL has been a trying one for Shavon Revel Jr., and one that taught him plenty of lessons he’ll carry for the rest of his life. He earned his way to becoming the Dallas Cowboys’ third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after attending junior college to improve his grades for the right to attend a larger university.
He succeeded, on a road that included working at an Amazon distribution center, transferring from Louisberg College to East Carolina for the 2022 season. Fast forward to 2025, and the son of a rabid Cowboys’ fan virtually manifested his destination in late April.
“Hey, I know it’s crazy though I put on a whole blue suit — a full blue suit,” said the Second-team All-AAC cornerback. “I was like, Hey, it might be a chance I go to them ‘Boys. It was kind of crazy though, because me and my family were talking about it the whole time, the whole month, this whole year, just talking about it like, ‘It might be a chance.’
His predraft visit with the Cowboys went remarkably well to go along with some impressive film that preceded a torn ACL suffered in September that cost him most of the 2024 season, and Revel provided promising insight into where he currently stands in his recovery from an injury that was surgically repaired by Dr. Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ lead physician, not so coincidentally (or coincidentally, depending on your believe in destiny).
“Right now, I’m running in a straight line,” said Revel. ” I can lift heavy. I’m lifting heavy. I’m running in a straight line. Haven’t gotten to the brakes and cutting yet, but I’ve been cleared by Dr. Cooper to at least progress my way up into doing things like that.
“So now that I’ve got time now, whenever I go back home or when I ever get to the facility, I’ll work on those things.”
And what was it about the Cowboys and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus that stood out to him most, other than the inevitable discussion about fit and X’s and O’s?
“I just liked the energy when I came in there, when I came in there on my visit,” he said of Eberflus and head coach Brian Schottenheimer, as well as the team’s front office. “The energy was different than anywhere else I’ve been. It was hype, man.
“It was exciting, man. It was all so genuine. … [Eberflus] loved the way I played but, of course, there are errors in my game and I need to fix it. We went over the good, and went over the bad, but he liked my strength, he liked my speed, he liked my height, and he liked my effort.
“I am willing to chase after the ball even if it’s on the opposite side of the field. He loves my effort.”
Revel is also not naive to his detractors, particularly those who would point at his journey through junior college and to a smaller university prior in the AAC before now being asked to step in for an injured Diggs opposite DaRon Bland, an All-Pro combo at the NFL level.
To them, the self-proclaimed “dog” of a defensive back has but one message.
“That’s their job, man,” he said. “They doubt me. They’re going to hate and, hey, they are doing their job. That’s what they want to do. That’s bringing more fuel to my fire, and it keeps me pushing every single day because I’m doing it for the coaches. I’m doing it for my family.”
