C.J. Ravenell Bio
C.J. Ravenell (born July 7, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Standing at 196 centimeters and listed at 136 kilograms, he plays on the defensive line and most recently joined the Titans off waivers in August 2025. Ravenell reached the NFL through the Division II ranks at Missouri Western before earning a roster opportunity with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
Early Life and Background
C.J. Ravenell was born on July 7, 2000, in Santa Clarita, California, and grew up in the same Southern California community. He attended Golden Valley High School in Santa Clarita, where he began his organized football career before moving on to the college level. The Santa Clarita Valley produced a steady line of college-level prospects, and Ravenell’s size and frame drew early attention from college programs.
Coming out of Golden Valley, Ravenell was regarded as a developmental defensive line prospect whose best football still appeared ahead of him. He chose to continue his career at Missouri Western State University, where the Griffons compete in the NCAA Division II and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). That decision set the stage for a five-season college arc and the honors he would later collect within the MIAA.
Path to American Football
Ravenell’s college path began when he enrolled at Missouri Western and redshirted his first season in 2018, preserving a year of eligibility while he adjusted to the speed and strength demands of the MIAA. He spent the next four seasons working his way into the Griffons’ defensive line rotation, learning a power-based edge rusher’s role. By the time his senior cycle was complete, his production had grown enough to draw attention from NFL scouts despite the Division II level.
After the 2024 NFL draft, Ravenell signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent, opening his professional career. The path from a redshirt year at a Division II program to an NFL training camp is uncommon, and Ravenell’s climb reflected steady development across five college seasons. That trajectory carried him into his first professional preseason with a Super Bowl contender.
C.J. Ravenell Career
Early Career (2024)
Ravenell began his NFL journey with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 after going undrafted. He joined the Ravens’ offseason program and competed for a depth role on a defensive line known for its veteran leadership. The Ravens kept him around the organization as he adjusted to the speed of pro football following a Division II college career.
His most visible early moment came during the 2024 preseason, when Ravenell recorded a sack on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. The play offered a snapshot of his pass-rushing upside and gave the Ravens a measurable data point on his development. He continued to work within the team’s edge rotation through training camp, gaining reps against professional offensive tackles.
Baltimore Ravens (2024–2025)
Ravenell’s tenure with the Baltimore Ravens stretched across the 2024 season and into the early months of 2025. He spent the regular season within the organization, contributing on the practice squad and remaining a developmental piece on the defensive line. On February 12, 2025, he signed a reserve/futures contract with the Ravens, a move that signalled the team’s intent to retain him into the next offseason.
His time in Baltimore ended during the 2025 roster cutdown. On August 26, 2025, the Ravens waived Ravenell as part of their final preseason cuts, trimming the roster to the league-mandated limit. The move was procedural rather than a reflection of off-field issues, and his preseason play on the edge gave him a clear path to another NFL opportunity almost immediately.
Tennessee Titans Era (2025–Present)
On August 27, 2025, one day after being waived by Baltimore, C.J. Ravenell was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans. The move gave him a fresh roster opening at defensive end with a franchise in the middle of its own defensive rebuild. He entered Titans training camp looking to lock down a depth role along the edge.
Ravenell’s early work with the Titans centers on providing interior pressure and rotational snaps behind the team’s established defensive ends. His size at 196 centimeters and 136 kilograms gives him the frame to hold up against the run while he continues to refine his pass-rush plan. The Titans’ defensive coaching staff has prioritized competition along the line, and Ravenell’s preseason flashes from his Baltimore stint shaped the decision to put in a waiver claim.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a defensive end, Ravenell’s strengths begin with his size and length, which allow him to play the run on the edge and occupy blockers. He has shown flashes of quickness off the snap that produced his preseason sack on Kenny Pickett, and his game leans on power more than finesse moves at this stage. Coaches have pointed to his work ethic and special-teams willingness as additional strengths that help a young defensive end earn a roster spot.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Ravenell’s young NFL career is his preseason sack on Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett while with the Baltimore Ravens. Signing a reserve/futures contract on February 12, 2025, marked another milestone, as it secured his spot on the offseason roster. His rapid transition from Ravens waiver to Titans waiver claim on August 27, 2025, represents the most recent milestone in his still-developing professional arc.
C.J. Ravenell Career Wins
Ravenell’s professional resume is in its earliest stages, so his verified wins to this point are largely individual accolades earned during his college career at Missouri Western and a handful of preseason highlights in the NFL. His most notable preseason achievement was his sack on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett as a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2024. Beyond that play, the body of verifiable wins rests on his All-MIAA selections rather than on regular-season NFL game results.
Missouri Western Griffons Highlights
Across five seasons with the Missouri Western Griffons, Ravenell earned three All-MIAA selections, beginning with a third-team nod in 2021 and followed by second-team honors in both 2022 and 2023. He also collected three academic awards during his time with the program, reflecting his work in the classroom alongside his play on the field. Those selections are his most decorated college honors and the clearest marker of his development as a Division II defensive end.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of his All-MIAA honors, Ravenell’s other verified accomplishments include a redshirt season in 2018 that allowed him to preserve eligibility and a five-year college arc that ended with an NFL opportunity. His preseason sack on Kenny Pickett for the Baltimore Ravens stands as his standout NFL highlight to date. Beyond those items, his professional stat line has yet to accumulate regular-season production.
C.J. Ravenell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about C.J. Ravenell’s immediate family and any athletic lineage is limited. He was raised in Santa Clarita, California, and came out of Golden Valley High School, where he developed into a college-level defensive line prospect. There is no widely verified public detail about parents or relatives who played the sport at a high level.
Personal Life
Ravenell keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye. Available verified information does not list a spouse, children, or detailed family members, and he has not publicly discussed long-term residence beyond his California roots. His social media presence offers limited additional insight into his personal affairs, focusing instead on training updates and football content.
2025 Season Performance
Ravenell’s 2025 storyline is shaped by his August roster moves, beginning with his waiver by the Baltimore Ravens on August 26, 2025, and his immediate claim by the Tennessee Titans on August 27, 2025. The quick turnaround kept his season alive and placed him in a defensive end room looking for rotation help. From there, his priority is locking down a depth role and contributing on special teams while he develops.
With the Titans, Ravenell’s path to the regular-season field is tied to his preseason play and his fit within the team’s edge-rushing scheme. The Titans’ defense is in the middle of a refresh, and depth signings like Ravenell give the coaching staff more competition in camp. If he can translate his preseason flashes into consistent practice work, he has a realistic shot at a season-long roster spot.
Looking across the rest of 2025, the outlook for Ravenell centers on opportunity rather than proven production. His All-MIAA pedigree, his size, and his preseason sack résumé give him a foundation to build on. Sustained development and a defined role on special teams would represent a successful 2025 for a defensive end still in the opening chapter of his professional career.