Elon, N.C. – Expectations are high for the Elon Football program heading into the 2024 season and the Phoenix has received recognition for the talented roster the Head Coach Tony Trisciani and staff has assembled.
 
Craig Haley, the FCS Senior Editor for Stats Perform/The Analyst and one of the most influential writers in the country, revealed his preseason top 25 rankings on May 8, listing Elon at No. 18 in the country. He noted the difficulty of Elon's early-season schedule (six of the first seven opponents had winning records in 2023), but also the fact that the Phoenix plays four consecutive home games for the first time in the program's FCS era.
 
It takes a lot of individual talent to earn a preseason top 20 ranking and the Phoenix has earned plenty of recognition this summer, beginning with returning All-American safety Caleb Curtain.
 
Curtain, who had a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown against Wake Forest a year ago, was named the top returning safety in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) by HeroSports. He led Elon with 80 tackles and four interceptions a year ago and was named First Team All-CAA for his efforts. He added 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two fumbles recovered.
 
But that isn't all for Curtain. FCS Football Central named both Curtain and transfer Khalil Baker among the top 10 returning safeties in all of FCS for 2024. Baker spent four years at North Carolina Central and was named a 2022 AFCA and Associated Press First Team All-American. He also won the 2022 Aeneas Williams Award, given to the nation's best defensive back in HBCU Division I college football. He was the 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP after posting 10 tackles in an overtime victory over Jackson State.
 
FloFootball also piled on the accolades for the Elon defense. Curtain, along with redshirt sophomore Marco Patierno, were named two of the top defensive players in the CAA heading into the 2024 season. Patierno was named a Freshman All-American by FCS Stats Perform, FCS Football Central and Phil Steele. He had 68 tackles, 5.0 for loss, and two fumble recoveries. He returned a fumble 23 yards for a touchdown against Hampton.
 
But defense isn't the only place that Elon has eye-opening talent. Senior wide receiver Chandler Brayboy was named the fourth most-explosive player in FCS Football this year by The Analyst. Brayboy averaged 26.9 yards per kick return in 2023, 19.6 yards per reception and 8.4 yards per carry. Per The Analyst, "One way or another, he's going to hurt you – it's your choice how." Brayboy's five touchdowns a year ago averaged 48.2 yards, eighth-highest in all of FCS Football.
 
NC Football News named senior Matthew Downing as one of the top returning quarterbacks to watch in 2024. Averaging 294.0 yards passing over the final four games of the regular season, to go with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions, Downing settled into the Elon offense as 2023 progressed. He also threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns in a win over then-No. 5 Delaware and had 281 yards and two touchdowns against Richmond, an FCS playoff team.
 
Elon opens a rare 12-game schedule at Duke on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. That game will be televised nation-wide on the ACC Network. After a road game rematch at North Carolina Central on Sept. 7, Elon begins a four-game homestand. The Phoenix hosts Western Carolina in the home opener Sept. 14 at 6:00 p.m. before hosting ETSU seven days later at 6:00 p.m. CAA action begins Sept. 28 with a home game against Richmond (Family Weekend), followed by a bye week. After the weekend off, Elon will host New Hampshire Oct. 12 at 2:00 p.m.
 
The rest of Elon's home schedule includes Campbell on Nov. 2 at 2:00 p.m. for Homecoming and Maine on Nov. 16 at 2:00 p.m. for Senior Day.