Jan 19, 2025, 6:00 PM UTC
Dream Bowl
2023 North Carolina Central vs Elon

Elon Football: It's Curtains For Offenses With Caleb Curtain Patrolling

Elon Football: It's Curtains For Offenses With Caleb Curtain Patrolling

Defensive back Caleb Curtain's breakout season is setting the tone for an Elon defense that ranks among the best in FCS in 2023.

Oct 4, 2023 by Kyle Kensing
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Seeing the wide receiver with whom he was matched up looking for a crackback let Elon's Caleb Curtain know to trigger on the ball. 

William & Mary running back Malachi Imoh took an option pitch from quarterback Darius Wilson — who Curtain kept out of the end zone two snaps prior — and headed for the pylon. But meeting Imoh near the two-yard hash came a streaking Curtain, faster than it seems a player covering as much ground as the Elon defensive back had in front of him should be able.

But Curtain did it. Just another example of the sophomore doing whatever he can for the Phoenix.  

"I said, 'I need to get down there,'" Curtain said. "I just beat him to the corner and made it happen." 

The ensuing collision sent Imoh out-of-bounds on the wrong side of the pylon. Two stops for Curtain and four for the Elon defense inside the 10-yard line, no points for the Tribe. 

It's hard for Curtain to say for sure that's his favorite single play so far for Elon — "that or the pick-six," he admits, referencing the 50-yard interception returned for a touchdown Week 1 at Wake Forest. 

Getting to the end zone on opening weekend in an autonomy-five program's house is understandably exciting — particularly for a former standout wide receiver like Curtain. 

His goal-line play against William & Mary, however, dictated the direction of a pivotal Coastal Athletic Association contest. Elon held the No. 4-ranked Tribe and defending conference co-champion out of the end zone for the rest of the day, giving up only two field goals. The Phoenix defense held things down for three quarters, then set up the offense for its first score. 

Jaidyn Denis' interception of Wilson, caused thanks to pressure from Marvin Pearson, set the scene for a Matthew Downing touchdown pass to Chandler Brayboy. 

Elon's next drive covered 94 yards and culminated in Downing finding Jamarien Dalton from eight yards out. 

William & Mary's last-ditch effort to force overtime reached the red zone again — and again, Curtain contributed to a critical turnover on downs. He was in with linebacker Patierno on a tackle of Tribe running Martin Lucas to deny a first down on third-and-long. 

"He's a very crafty football player. High football IQ," Phoenix coach Tony Trisciani said of Curtain earlier in the season. "Really good instincts. Good hands." 

Following the win over William & Mary, Curtain told FloFootball he's shown he's got the hands to make plays on the ball. 

"It's helped a lot with my ball skills," he said. "Just being ready for the ball at all times. I've got the hands so that's not too hard. And then route recognition, understanding offenses and concepts." 

His interception against Wake Forest was the first of two this season, with another coming in a 27-3 romp of CAA counterpart North Carolina, and Curtain's now earned his place on Elon's Turnover Wall three times in his still-young career. 

Curtain does indeed have the skills to play on offense, which he showed off at Grimsley High School in Greensboro. There, he caught 24 passes for the Whirlies as a junior. 

As a senior, however, Curtain solidified himself as a dominant presence on defense. His year culminated with a pick-six in the 28-6 North Carolina 4A State Championship Game win over Cardinal Gibbons. 

The move to cornerback helped Grimsley to a title, and it's certainly paying off for Elon. Curtain's production has been instrumental in the Phoenix jumping to an early lead in the CAA and back into the Top 25. 

His change of positions has also facilitated Curtain's development into a game-changer — and been a fit for his style. 

"It's crazy we're wired to run into people full-speed all the time, but it's fun having that juice and energy," he said, describing the atmosphere of the Elon defensive backs room. 

Maintaining that energy week-to-week is also part of what Curtain brings to the Phoenix. Despite garnering CAA Defensive Player of the Week recognition following the win over William & Mary, there's no time for rest. 

Curtain and Co. quickly turned the page to another showdown with a Top 15-ranked opponent, this time out-of-conference with No. 11 North Carolina Central. 

2023 North Carolina Central vs Elon


The Eagles won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship in 2022, then closed the book on Prime time at Jackson State with a 41-34 defeat of Jackson State in last year's Celebration Bowl. 

Plenty of impact players from last season's NCCU squad return, including quarterback Trei Oliver. The dynamic, dual-threat playmaker ranked No. 16 nationally at 35.6 points scored a game, and 41 a contest vs. FCS competition. 

The Eagles have not lost an FCS opponent since last October, and have scored 40-plus points in five of their last seven games in the subdivision. 

As he did in preparation for William & Mary, Curtain is putting his past performance behind him and looking out for what he can do to elevate his, and his team's game. 

"We've got to stop the run; [gave up] more explosives than we wanted," he said of the Week 5 win. "And we've got to continue to hit the quarterback." 

If it's getting to the quarterback, jumping a route to pick off a pass or breaking on the perimeter to snuff out a ball-carrier on fourth down, Caleb Curtain is going to do whatever he can to keep the Phoenix rising.