Photo by Jeff Sochko/Tim Cowie
football
Jason Knabel, Deputy AD for Strategic Communications
ELON, N.C. – Expectations are high for the Elon football program heading into the 2024 season, with the Phoenix being evaluated by the head coach for some talented players. Tony Trisciani The staff gathered.
Craig Haley, senior FCS editor for Stats Perform/The Analyst and one of the most influential writers in the country, released his preseason Top 25 rankings on May 8, ranking Elon University 18th in the country. He cited not only the difficulty of Elon's early-season schedule (six of its first seven opponents have winning records in 2023) but also the fact that for the first time in the school's FCS era, the University of Phoenix will play four consecutive games at home.
It takes a lot of individual talent to earn a preseason top-20 ranking, and Phoenix has plenty of recognition this summer, including the return of All-American safety. Caleb Curtain.
Last year, Curtain was named the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) top returning safety by Hero Sports after his 50-yard interception return for a touchdown against Wake Forest. He led Elon with 80 tackles and four interceptions last year, earning him a spot on the CAA First Team. He also recorded 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
But that's not all. FCS Football Central has listed both the curtains and the transfer players. Khalil Baker Baker returns as a top-10 safety overall in the FCS class of 2024. He spent four years at North Carolina Central University where he was named an AFCA and Associated Press First Team All-American in 2022. He also won the 2022 Aeneas Williams Award, given to the nation's best defensive back in HBCU Division I college football. He was named the 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP after recording 10 tackles in an overtime win over Jackson State.
Flow Football also praised Elon's defense, with Curtain, along with the redshirt sophomore, Marco Patiernowas named one of the CAA's top two defensive players heading into the 2024 season. Patierno was named a Freshman All-American by FCS Stats Perform, FCS Football Central and Phil Steele. He recorded 68 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. He also had a fumble return for a 23-yard touchdown against Hampton.
But Elon's defense isn't the only area where the senior wide receiver is showing incredible talent. Chandler Brayboy Analyst Magazine named Brayboy the fourth most explosive player in FCS football this year. Brayboy averaged 26.9 yards per kick return, 19.6 yards per reception and 8.4 yards per carry in 2023. “He's going to hurt you one way or another. How you do it is up to you,” according to Analyst Magazine. Brayboy averaged 48.2 yards for his five touchdowns last year, eighth-best in all of FCS football.
NC Football News Selected Senior Matthew Downing Downing is rated as one of the top returning quarterbacks to watch in 2024. After averaging 294.0 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and no interceptions over the final four games of the regular season, Downing has established himself as a fixture in Elon's offense as 2023 progressed, and he also threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns in a win over then-No. 5 Delaware and 281 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Richmond, an FCS playoff team.
Elon will begin an unusual 12-game schedule at Duke University on Friday, August 30 at 7:30 pm. The game will be nationally televised on the ACC Network. After a rematch of the away game at North Carolina Central University on September 7, Elon will begin a four-game homestand. The Phoenix will host Western Carolina University in their home opener on September 14 at 6 pm, followed by ETSU seven days later at 6 pm. CAA play will begin with a home game against Richmond on September 28 (Family Weekend), followed by a bye week. After the weekend off, Elon will host the University of New Hampshire on October 12 at 2 pm.
Elon's remaining home schedule includes a homecoming game against Campbell on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. and a senior day game against Maine on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.
— Elon —
