ELON N.C. – At the conclusion of his redshirt junior season with the Elon University football team, star defensive back
Caleb Curtain was named the recipient of the 2024 Chuck Boone Leadership and Excellence award. The award identifies the most outstanding individual on and off of the field in CAA football.
"It means a lot, all the love I've received from the Elon community, staff, coaches, it helped me develop not just on the field, but off of it as well," Curtain said. "It shows how much you can learn in three to four years, putting in the work on the field and battling through adversities off of it. Showing up every day, giving it my best, teaching the younger guys, just helping out the program in any way I can."
Curtain becomes just the second individual from Elon University to win this accolade, the first being quarterback Davis Cheek who won it in 2021.
"Being the second to win it is crazy," Curtain said. "We talk about legacy a lot, so leaving a good one behind for the future generations and setting a good standard for my family and my brother is really important to me."
The recognition for Curtain's excellence has not stopped there. Following the 2024 season, Curtain was named to Phil Steele's first team All-American squad, recording 75 total tackles and 11 passes defended including two key interceptions against Duke University and the University of Maine.
Curtain was also nominated for the William V. Campbell Trophy, an award given to the college football player with the best combination of academics, on-field production and community service. Previous winners of this award are players such as 2023 first round pick and Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, along with star quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Jalen Milroe.
"It's good to have these expectations for you," Curtain said. "I had to overcome the reality that teams are going to try to keep the ball away from you, so figuring out ways to help the team and support the guys when they make plays – just making our overall team better."
On top of everything, Curtain was also named to the Buck Buchanan preseason watch list, which awarded the best defensive players in the FCS. Former defensive star for the Phoenix Marcus Hillman placed fourth in voting for the award in 2022.
"It's a blessing to just be in the same conversation as those guys," Curtain said. "Marcus [Hillman], being an All-American, he led the way. He taught me a lot of things, and this just sets the standard for the program."
On the field, Curtain and the rest of the captains embodied their leadership roles, which showed throughout the progression of the season. Elon began the season with a 1-4 record heading into its bye week. However, with the help of Curtain's leadership, the tide shifted as the Phoenix finished the season winning five of its last six games to finish at 6-6.
"After our bye it was a tough time," Curtain said. "Guys weren't as motivated, but we just had to push through and fight, understand that we still have goals we want to accomplish. You've got to dig deep down and figure out what you want. I think it was also good for me to test the ability of my leadership, figure out how to get guys motivated and show the younger guys that we still need to come in and work every day, regardless of what's happened recently or what our record says. We needed to figure out ways to win and have fun while doing it. That was our biggest message."
Curtain's leadership role goes further than just the Elon University football team. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated and part of Elon's executive board of the National Panhellenic Council, which oversees Elon's African American Fraternities and Sororities. Curtain, being a member of these organizations while being a captain on a DI FCS football team, credits his parents for his determination and drive.
"It comes from my parents," Curtain said. "My dad is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Incorporated, and my mom is a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. Seeing the things they do, they've done so much community service, and priding themselves on bringing up the community within the community. I also understand that I need to make time for these things, it can't just be straight football. I need to focus on my academics and giving back to the community. I just want to show others in a position like mine, that this can be done. That it doesn't matter how much you have on your plate. Mainly to show that there is always a way."
Curtain, originally from Greensboro, spends his time helping out in his hometown and in Burlington. Last year, Curtain's fraternity did a clothing drive with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
"It was a really good turnout and we donated all of the clothes to the Salvation Army," Curtain said. "We put boxes out at locations on and off of campus and it went well. Just trying to get people the clothes and other resources they need is very important, and college students have a lot of stuff they don't need in their dorms, so it's good to put those things to better use."
Despite having a remaining year of collegiate eligibility to figure out what Curtain wants life to look like after college, he said there are several possible career avenues he is interested in pursuing.
"It's still a dream of mine to go pro, or play in the NFL," Curtain said. "Outside of that I'd love to get into real estate. It's something I've always had a passion for. Other coaches have suggested I get into coaching as well. I feel I have a good Football IQ, so that's also something I can direct myself towards. Mainly, I'd want to stay around the game of football. I'd like to do for others what other coaches did for me, and just help them find that passion that I found."
One thing is for certain about Curtain, that his passion of giving back won't end when his career on the field does.
'Rising Phoenix' is a student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department's various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on X (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Chase Strawser at cstrawser@elon.edu.
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