With conference realignment, the transfer portal, and exhausted eligibility forcing immense roster turnover year over year, having Power Four-level talent return to the Group of Five is not guaranteed. Yet, the No. 1 player on the 2024 AAC CB Rankings bucks that trend.
AAC 2024 CB Rankings
10) Ridge Texada, North Texas Mean Green
Ridge Texada may only be 5’8″ and 179 pounds, but you can’t tell by how big he plays on the outside. Of course, taller and more physical WRs can give him issues, but he understands positioning, leading to four interceptions and 24 PBUs over the last two years.
A member of the Shrine Bowl 1000 watch list, Texada has the skill set to play on Sundays, and he’ll prove as much one more time in 2024.
9) Tavin Ward, USF Bulls
After redshirting in 2022, the 2023 season marked Tavin Ward’s first on a collegiate field. He only started five games, but he showed enough to warrant the No. 9 spot on the 2024 AAC CB Rankings.
While he was beaten over the top a few times, Ward showcased the physical tools to thrive in the conference with one INT and eight PBUs. He should take a big leap in his first year as a full-time starter.
8) Kobee Minor, Memphis Tigers
Memphis attacked the transfer portal with reckless abandon, and the Tigers were rewarded with several future starters, including Indiana’s Kobee Minor. His last name may be minor, but he made a major impact on the field last season.
Following three years buried on the depth chart at Texas Tech, Minor instantly saw the field for the Hoosiers and flashed his ability against first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. in Week 1. He has yet to snatch his first career INT, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he had multiple in 2024.
7) Kahzir Brown, FAU Owls
A three-year starter at Maine, Kahzir Brown wracked up 137 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, one sack, six INTs, 13 PBUs, and two forced fumbles. Like Texada, his play landed him on the Shrine Bowl’s radar. But unlike Texada, Brown has the size NFL teams covet at 6’3″ and 210 pounds.
MORE: AAC Strength of Schedule
His obvious presence shows up on contested looks and limits throwing windows, but it also helps Brown stand out as a run defender and tackler. FAU has had three straight losing seasons — if Brown hits the ground running, he could help the program end the streak.
6) Davion Ross, Memphis Tigers
A season-ending arm injury robbed Davion Ross of what was supposed to be his collegiate farewell tour. He burst onto the scene at Eastern Kentucky from 2020-21, where he shined as a corner (three INTs, 17 PBUs) and kick returner (one TD in both seasons).
Ready for increased competition, Ross entered the portal and joined AAC powerhouse Memphis. All he did in his first year was lead the program in PBUs (six), showcasing the talent needed to thrive in the FBS.
However, Ross returns to a bit of a crowded room in 2024. Minor and former Elon CB Jaidyn Denis transferred in, and Julian Barnett, DJ Bell, and Tyrin Taylor are back after playing significant snaps last year.
5) Caleb Ransaw, Tulane Green Wave
Troy fans know his disruptive Caleb Ransaw can be from the slot, and although he’s no longer a Trojan, he should maintain success in 2024 after following head coach Jon Sumrall to Tulane.
Ransaw kept plays in front of him and was rarely beaten downfield last year, and there’s no doubt he’ll do the same as a Green Wave.
4) Daedae Hill, FAU Owls
The 2022 season marked Daedae Hill’s first with starting snaps after spending two years at Central Michigan. It took him some time to find his groove, but once he did, he began to lock down his side of the field. The result was a spectacular 2023 campaign, as Hill rarely allowed anything into his coverage.
Entering his fifth and final season, Hill could have saved his best for last.
3) Dashaun Peele, Navy Midshipmen
Navy is known for its tough-nosed defense, and Dashaun Peele certainly fits the mold. He earned an All-AAC honorable mention after notching four picks and five more breakups last season.
Stingy in coverage from the boundary, teams should learn from their mistakes last year and not look Peele’s way in 2024.
2) Dontae Balfour, Charlotte 49ers
Third-team All-AAC corner. Jim Thorpe Award nominee. Shrine Bowl 1000 member. Dontae Balfour has not flown under the radar since last season. He parlayed his two years as a backup at North Carolina into a starting role with Charlotte last year, culminating in a one-INT, 10-PBU campaign.
Coverage numbers are volatile, but Balfour showed a penchant for stepping up in big moments, tying the 49ers’ single-game PBU record with four against Memphis.
1) Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina Pirates
Shavon Revel Jr. saw Balfour’s résumé and said, “hold my beer,” earning second-team All-AAC, Jim Thorpe Award watch list, Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, and Shrine Bowl 100 honors.
Revel transferred to ECU after two years at Louisburg College, a JUCO in North Carolina, and spent most of his first season on the bench.
KEEP READING: 2024 All-AAC College Football Preseason Team and Individual Honors
Yet, Revel repaid the Pirates tenfold for believing in his ability by stuffing the stat sheet: 55 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, one sack, one INT, 11 PBUs, one fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks.
Revel’s tape had bigger programs blowing up his phone, offering him six-figure deals to transfer out. But Revel stayed true to East Carolina and is ready to revel in his final collegiate season with a bang in 2024.
2024 AAC CB Rankings | 11-20
11) Ricky Lee III, UAB
12) Michal Antoine Jr., FAU
13) Jaidyn Denis, Memphis
14) Sean Fresch, Rice
15) Colby Dempsey and Adrian Maddox, UAB
16) Denver Harris, UTSA
17) Lu Tillery, Tulane
18) Aamaris Brown, USF
19) Torey Richardson, Temple
20) Johnathan Edwards, Tulane
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