Shavon Revel plays as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys. Previously, he played college football for Louisburg College and East Carolina University. He was selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft. 

PEER: Can you take us back to that moment when you decided to attend East Carolina University’s training prospect camp? What was going through your mind?

SHAVON REVEL: Going back, see, puts me in that position to where I’m already in “juco” (junior college), when I went to that camp, at that point, I was given another opportunity after high school, but I didn’t have the greatest grades. I wasn’t eligible to go to a D1 college. So, I mean, in that position, just like, okay, I’m given another opportunity, why not take it? I went there not knowing if I’m going to get an offer. It’s just like, okay, I got to work, I got to focus, I got to lock in because at the end of the day, it’s still a process. I know what I’m signing myself up for. And I’m not saying like, I’m going to give up if I don’t get this offer. It was more like, okay, me and my dad, man, we found this, we found this camp. Let’s see what you can do. Let’s try it out. Let’s see what can come up. 

I’m running in front of all these D1 coaches trying to prove to them what I can be and what I can do not knowing that, okay, I got that talent in me. Like, I have it in me. And that’s one thing they pointed out to me that day. It was like, after the camp, “You ran a good 40, good broad jump, vertical, etc.” 

My dad always preached to me, like, you’re that guy, you’re the man, always, every time you step on that field. That day when he told me, I only had a 2.0 at that time, you know, most D1 colleges wasn’t taking anybody with a 2.0 GPA, yet he offered me. That kind of sparked something in me. Because it was like, if I didn’t say yes to go into the camp, where would I be? What position would I be in right now? And that sparked me because like, okay, these people actually believe in me. Already knowing that, okay, we believe in him. All he has to do was go to school and get at least a 2.5 or higher. I exceeded that 2.5. I’m given this opportunity to go back to school and get my grades right, get it together. 

P: So, anything else that motivated you to keep going throughout your college football career that led you to the draft?

SR: I’m very self-motivated. I didn’t have a lot of friends, but a lot of teammates, and they were on my side and stuff like that; they supported me. In my head, I’m on a different mission. I felt like I had something to prove. Like, I’m hungry every single day, no matter what time. I’m practicing after practice. I’m practicing after lifts. I’m lifting after lifts. I’m doing this and that. I just look at my mom and dad and how hard they worked for what they wanted right now, because my mom and dad didn’t grow up easy. And they were never given a silver spoon.

Growing up, they always instilled and preached that to us, like, be yourself. Every time you step out in that world, just think the world is against you. Go out every day, be hungry every single day. And that kind of instilled something inside of me. And my family — I love my family to death. I always preach this, man, you can’t never do nothing if you don’t open your eyes. I thank God for giving me that ability and the opportunity to wake up every single day and go out there and do what I can do and do what He gifted me. The special talent that I have is to go out there every single day and throw on a show. Every day, take it day by day. Even on my bad days, I never complain because I’m awake. If I’m not awake, I can’t do nothing. I can’t progress. He gave that to me, that special gift He gave it to me.

P: Have you ever faced any challenges in your life and football career? How has your faith helped you in those challenges? 

SR: I’ve been through a lot. I’ve been through a lot of adversity, and I know growing up, as you grow, as you get older, you’re going to go through adversity. My sister died about three years ago. Something happened to my little brother a few years ago; it threw me off. And then my ACL. All that felt like a test. Am I going to give up? Am I just going to be selfish and shut out the whole world? And I don’t only think about myself. I don’t only think about myself. I think about people in Africa, Afghanistan. It’s the people that don’t have access to things that I have access to and the help that I have helped. 

You can cry, you can mope around and snap, but I feel like God gave me a gift to be strong enough to overcome all those things, all those obstacles that try to hold me down and to keep pushing forward because I know I don’t have it that hard. I don’t have it the hard way. It’s people that don’t get enough food, no water — none of this. I have access. I have people willing to help me, people willing to do a surgery on my knee. 

When my sister died, I know she wanted me to be my best. I prayed every day. I wore her on my sleeve. I wore her on my wrist, my gloves, everywhere on my face. Every day I prayed for her and it reminded me every day like she fought so hard. I’m not going to give up. God hasn’t given up on me. He carved this path for me for a reason, for me and my family. He built this circle to shield me and my family from nothing negative to penetrate that bubble. I’m so grateful for it. I preach that a lot all the time. When you wake up, hey, that’s another opportunity. God has given you another chance and the opportunity to go out there and change your life and turn your life around. I’m not saying everything is easy. He’s never said everything’s going to be easy by the end of the day. You have to go out there and work for it. 

P: You got drafted to the Cowboys recently. What was it like getting that call from the Cowboys on draft day? 

SR: It’s funny, that’s my dad’s favorite team. When I went on the 30 visit with them, I already felt like I was family. I was like, this might be the spot. When draft day came, not knowing that Cowboys is the American team, you know. I’m waiting first round; I didn’t make first round. I didn’t give up. I’m not going to sit around and mope. Second round — still didn’t make the second round. And finally, the third round, you know, it took a little longer for me to come in. But when I saw that phone call, I looked straight at my dad and showed him my phone. 

I was trying to keep my composure, not trying to stutter, not trying to get nervous. I was trying to talk to him. I was so excited. I don’t know. I thank God for so much. I thank God for the people that’s been there for me to support me. All I ask is for people’s support and being there to push me to be my best and hold me accountable. 

I felt everybody around — my family, brother, sister, homeboys, nieces, nephews — just looking at me. I really couldn’t believe it. I really couldn’t. At that time, I know I still had to do some work. I was excited at the moment, but the next day it’s like, it’s time to work. I have to keep working. I got drafted to the Cowboys and I have to prove to the coaches this is the next step. This is the next chapter that God has put on my table and place. Like, what am I going to do? I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to get tired. No, I have family behind me. I have God willing to carve another path for me, the next chapter, start this chapter for me. And I really appreciate that.

P: What has surprised you most about life in the NFL so far? How has your faith been impacted? 

SR: Nothing can impact my faith. I pray every day as soon as I wake up, even the days I forget to walk out. When I walk out the house, I forget to pray, I have to go back in the house and pray. I have a strong relationship with God. Nothing can break me because I’m awake for a reason. It’s something I have to do. It’s something He’s asking me to do today. That’s how I wake up every day. 

I don’t believe in luck. I don’t believe in good luck. I believe in God. I pray alone. When I pray, I feel good every single day. Every day I step out in that facility, every day I go to meetings, every day I go to practice, every day I go to rehab — God is doing this with me. He’s making me stronger. He’s building me to prepare for this. He never said it was going to be easy. I’m not surprised if it gets hard. Might have off days but never asked “Why me?” It’s a reason it’s you. 

P: How do you remain rooted and grounded in your faith while pursuing your career? What advice do you have for young adults to stay grounded in their faith?  

SR: Just be available for yourself. You can’t blame anybody for what’s going on in your life. Nothing like that. Just be around yourself and around people that want best for you. Don’t go around judging people or this and that. I don’t surround myself with that. I’m always around my family. I got a few friends. They understand me and they understand I have a different view of the world. 

P: Are there any athletes past or present who have inspired you?

SR: I’ll say, because my dad used to have me watch them forever. Deion Sanders — you know, he’s a great father figure. He’s a great player. Back then you can’t mess with him when you’re on the field. You have to build that confidence. You have to be able to build it. You have to work on it. You have to perfect your craft. Because I’m a type of dude, like I have a good rep, what can I do better? And that’s what he did. And Ray Lewis — you know, he’s a dog. He wanted to win every day. He didn’t want to take any losses. I look at the two guys. I know Ray Lewis is a linebacker. I’m a cornerback. At the end of the day, what he preached was real. Like to go out there and be a dog. You’re doing this for the team. It’s a team. It’s not I, it’s a team. 

P: What advice do you have for this generation? Particularly aspiring athletes?

SR: Just focus on you. Don’t live your life based off however you see everybody else living theirs. Your life might come slow. It might come fast. But at end of the day, go at your own pace. Win your own race. Don’t let nobody’s opinions bother you or dictate your future or your future goals that you have going on. Now you let their opinions affect you. Now your future goals that you once had, they may not be there anymore. They have shifted because now you don’t let them get in your heads. Don’t let people get in your head. Because like I said, do what you want to do. 

At the end of the day, this is your life. You want to live your life the way you want to live it, not live it how everybody else wants you to live your life. 

And social media — it’s okay to be on social media. But at the end of the day, don’t let that affect your brain. Don’t consume too much negativity and let it affect your life. Learn how to push that things away. It’s not good for you. And I genuinely mean it. I mean, I genuinely mean all this, everything I’m saying right now, I just want to see the future. Not even just this generation, even the future generations, kids, grandkids, uncle, nephew, nieces just do better. And it can happen. It’s just like, everybody just has to come together.

P: When fans hear the name Shavon Revel, what do you hope they think of?

SR: That he’s a cool dude. Awesome person. I don’t use ‘cowboy’ when I go outside, because I don’t want to be just a football player. I don’t want to just be a cowboy. I want people to remember me as Shavon Revel. Let them know I’m not above y’all. I’m not superior. Because at the end of the day, I don’t know where I would be tomorrow. I could be this in this position, this position, so I treat everybody equally. I always let people know that, hey, I’m not above y’all. I’m with y’all. I’m for the people. And I want them to remember me as a cool dude, genuine person. A kind and a people person that’s willing to talk with anybody about anything, because you never know what somebody is going through. I ask everybody, hi, how’s your day? Put a smile on their face. And that makes me feel good. 

P: What is a Bible verse that’s been on your heart recently?

SR: One is 2 Timothy 1:7. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” To summarize, God did not give us breath and life and strength and intelligence for us to dump it on people who have no lasting influence on our lives. 

Follow Shavon on Instagram @r4lvon._28.