FRISCO — Shavon Revel Jr. received his first pair of cowboy boots, fittingly, when he became a Cowboy. All the rookie draft picks for the Dallas Cowboys were gifted boots when they first joined the team this offseason.
Revel’s were distinctive: all black, made with ostrich leather, designed by Lucchese. And, perhaps most important, they were brand new.
Boot-wearers know there’s an adjustment period to a new pair. You have to break them in before they feel comfortable. For Revel, the same can be said about learning his new role in the Cowboys’ defense.
The Cowboys considered Revel one of the best corner prospects in the 2025 NFL draft, if not the best. If not for a torn ACL early in his final collegiate season, Revel would’ve likely been taken earlier than the third round, where the Cowboys eventually selected him. In Revel, the Cowboys saw a talented corner who could use his 6-foot-1 height and nearly 80-inch wingspan to excel in press-man coverage.
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Revel showcased that during his NFL debut in Las Vegas three games ago, but if he was going to carve out a consistent role with the Dallas defense, he had to be more. Instead of the defense adapting to him, he had to adapt to it, which meant learning how to play zone coverage at a high level for the first time in his career.
Revel’s commitment to that might be the most impressive thing he’s done in his early career, according to coaches.
“He continues to amaze me, man,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said earlier this week.
“It’s so fun to watch him grow.”
Revel has been a willing learner, too. When he visited the Cowboys prior to the draft he recalled telling them that he wanted to learn more about zone coverage. He wanted to learn all the little details, especially because it was so unfamiliar to him. His build is perfectly designed for the man coverage he mostly played his entire life. He estimated that 90% of his college career at East Carolina was spent in man coverage. There were only a few situational exceptions that called for running zone.
One NFL draft expert fittingly described Revel as a boundary bully. He wasn’t known as a zone savant.
Defenses in the NFL require an understanding of both man and zone. Even some matchups require that type of versatility.
“The thing about corner is you cover different skill sets each and every week,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said. “In the game, too. You might be playing right, left, the corners are traveling. It’s different each and every time, so it’s important that he studies and learns the position in terms of who he’s covering and how you cover this particular guy. That’s the unique thing about the NFL.”
Revel was limited in his learning process, however. For most of his brief NFL career he could only watch and learn. He and the Cowboys were patient in the hopes of being smart with Revel’s recovery. The Cowboys didn’t open Revel’s practice window until Oct. 22. He would ask questions and he would spend extra time with cornerbacks coach David Overstreet II — which he said has helped a lot — but there’s only so much that can be learned away from the field.
“Reps,” Revel said, citing their importance. “You can talk to the coaches, but you also need to communicate with the people you’re on the field with.”
Most of Revel’s communication has been with the two safeties: Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker. A lot of players have earned credit for the Cowboys’ defensive turnaround the last three games, including new defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and now-healthy linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, but Schottenheimer has been adamant that Wilson and Hooker deserve credit, too. The Cowboys were plagued with zone coverage breakdowns earlier in the season. Even the simplest motions were deceptive to a secondary that struggled to communicate. Wilson and Hooker have helped remedy that situation.
Revel credits Wilson and Hooker for helping him focus on what he needs to do in zone coverage, too.
“They communicate what they want to do and what works best for us, and that’s what I like doing,” Revel said. “That’s what kind of fits me. Whatever works for them … OK, let’s do it.”
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Eberflus said learning zone coverage is a learning process for Revel, but he’s been improving. They’ll take that trajectory, especially with the way he’s currently playing. In three weeks he’s played 89 snaps of coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. In that span, he’s had two penalties, but allowed five catches on seven targets for 61 yards.
“I just love his confidence, man,” Schottenheimer said about Revel. “And I think if you don’t have that you can’t play in this league at that position, because of the way it can change in a hurry.
“Sky is the limit. I really think so.”
There’s an adjustment period before he can get there. Just like wearing in a new pair of boots.
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