Elon University football's duo of All-American safeties, Caleb Curtain and Khalil Baker, have burst onto the scene this year for the Phoenix.
In five games, Curtain, a redshirt junior, and Baker, a redshirt senior, have combined for 65 total tackles and five pass deflections with Curtain notching one interception. Each of them are in the top three for tackles and pass deflections among Elon defenders.
“The biggest thing right now is communication, especially with relaying the calls and things like that,” Curtain said.
Even with a productive start, Baker said that they’re starting to coexist better as the season has gone on. This is their first season playing together, as Baker transferred from North Carolina Central University.
Head coach Tony Trisciani said he was confident in Baker due to his experience playing under defensive coordinator Dovonte Edwards at NC Central.
“He had direct experience with him there,” Trisciani said. “We felt he would fit in well in our defense as the field safety and the system is similar to what he ran at Central.”
Both players additionally had high expectations going into the season. Curtain had a strong 2023 season which earned him preseason CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Baker was the number one ranked defensive back at an HBCU during his time at NCCU, and was named preseason second team All-CAA.
Curtain and Baker agreed they possess different skill sets but said it has helped them compliment each other. Baker said both of them study each other’s strengths to improve their performance.
“He’s more of a hitter safety, I’m more of a cover safety, but we’re both learning from each other,” Baker said. “When I watch film, I watch what he does and try to take that to improve my game.”
Curtain said Baker has already helped improve his skills in coverage. He said Baker’s advice is what helped him get an interception against Duke in the team’s season opener.
“The first week he was here, he was teaching me about coverage and then I got a pick so it’s just learning from each other,” Curtain said.
Baker said the Duke game was where he and Curtain knew they had the potential to be an elite duo.
Although Elon lost 26-3, Baker had 10 tackles and two pass deflections while Curtain recorded six tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception.
“We knew we could build off of that,” Baker said.
Baker added that Curtain has helped him grow accustomed to Elon’s defensive scheme since joining the Phoenix.
“Since I got here, we’ve talked about the defense, the calls, and how we can pass things off to each other,” Baker said. “It’s been the best thing knowing I have somebody to help me through the process.”
Edwards, who is the defensive backs coach/defensive coordinator, said Curtain and Baker’s play has carried over to the defense as a unit.
“The safeties are quarterbacks to the defense,” Edwards said. “People are following their lead and they are followable on and off the field.”
Edwards also admired Curtain and Baker’s dedication, saying they take their preparation seriously. He said it’s part of their approach toward getting better.
“They’re both students of the game,” Edwards said. “Those guys have meetings outside of the ones I have so that says a lot about their character.”
Trisciani added their mindset has made an impact on the defense’s attitude. He said they’re leadership and performance elevates the guys around them.
“They bring confidence to the unit,” Trisciani said. “They’re our energy source and when you have guys who can make plays and bring confidence and energy, that inspires everybody else.”
Curtain and Baker said their on-field chemistry will continue to get better, citing their familiarity with the defensive system and their playstyle as the biggest components.
“It really just clicks a lot easier,” Curtain said. “As the season goes on, our communication and playstyle will get better.”
With Elon’s record at 1-4, Curtain and Baker stated the need for the defense to create more takeaways. While Elon has forced six turnovers in five games according to Coastal Athletic Association handbook stats, three of those came in their only win against NC Central.
Following Elon’s loss to Richmond 27-17, the Phoenix have allowed 26 points a game and 396 yards a game which are both the sixth most in the CAA.
“We haven’t been taking the ball away but we got to make plays and handle adversity better,” Curtain said.
Curtain and Baker said they want to continue holding one another accountable to the point that the whole defense is doing the same.
“It’ll just be holding each other accountable more,” Baker said. “You’ll see us talking and everybody thinks one of us is frustrated, but that’s what it’s going to take to be a good team. I feel like we can push that to the whole team.”