Elon plucked one standout defensive back out of the transfer portal and convinced another to stay put for 2024. Those results will give the Phoenix one of the top safety tandems in FCS football this season.
North Carolina Football News turns its player spotlight today on Caleb Curtain and Khalil Baker, who each have all-conference and All-America resumes. Both have North Carolina roots, and both served as team captains on North Carolina high school state championship teams.
Curtain initially announced intentions to transfer after the 2023 campaign but removed his name from the portal in late December, about the same time Baker revealed his commitment to play for the Phoenix.
HERO Sports recently named Curtain the fifth-best returning safety in FCS. Baker was tabbed 10th best in that same ranking. (Read the complete list HERE).
Elon kicks off a highly anticipated season on Friday, Aug. 30 at Duke. The Phoenix will return to Durham the following Saturday to play NC Central, giving Baker a chance to face his former team.
#1 Caleb Curtain
- Position: Safety/Defensive Back
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 196
- Hometown: Greensboro
- High School (Previous School): Grimsley
2023 Highlights: Collected second-team All-America recognition from four different outlets: the Associated Press, FCS Stats Perform, the American Football Coaches Association and Phil Steele… Led the Phoenix in total tackles with 80 (54 solos) … picked off a team-high four passes (13th best in the nation), recovered two fumbles and broke up six passes…
Made a huge fourth-down stop at the goal line in an upset win over William & Mary. After that game, he was voted the CAA’s defensive player of the week (11 tackles, one sack) … Returned an interception for a 50-yard touchdown in the season opener at Wake Forest …
Other Elon Highlights: Played in 11 games for Elon in 2022 and four in 2021 … Had 11 solo tackles during the 2022 campaign, with a sack, interception and pass break-up … Made a big interception in a ’22 game against Delaware …
High School Highlights: Captained Grimsley’s 2020-21 state championship team … Earned 4A all-state honors … Named High School OT’s Defensive Player of the Year, along with the same honors by Game Of Inches.
#8 Khalil Baker
- Position: Safety/Defensive Back
- Height: 6-0
- Weight: 182
- Hometown: Winston-Salem
- High School (Previous School): East Forsyth (North Carolina Central)
NC Central Highlights: Played in 37 games with the Eagles from 2019-23 … Had a huge 2022 season, helping NCCU win the Celebration Bowl and mantle of HBCU national champions … Earned 10 tackles and defensive MVP honors in that game …
Made first-team All-America (Associated Press, AFCA) after the 2022 season and was named the Aeneas Williams Award winner denoting the top defensive back in HBCU Division I college football. He also was the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Comes to Elon with 111 career tackles and five interceptions …
High School Highlights: Twice earned all-conference and all-county honors. Also twice collected a sportsmanship award … Captained East Forsyth to a state championship in 2018.
