Miami still an option for Valentine

[GrozDozer]

Seems like horse **** to me. Golden already spoke to him so what's the hold?

Tunsil told me that he has not spoken to them.

U.S. Army All-American Travonte Valentine, coach want sit down with Golden

U.S. Army All-American defensive tackle Travonte Valentine dropped his commitment to the University of Miami last week when talk of coach Al Golden possibly heading to Penn State began to reach a fever pitch.

Tuesday, his high school coach Mike Tunsil said Valentine could end up rejoining Miami's class now that Golden has announced he's staying put. But the 6-3, 338-pound standout and his coach at Hialeah Champagnat want to have a sit down conversation with Golden to "make sure everyone is on the same page."

"Travonte just wants security," said Tunsil, who said he's handling all interviews for Valentine until he makes his final announcement on National Signing Day. "He's been saying UM for a long time. He loves UM. But for Coach Golden to go interview for another job was unsettling.

"A lot of things can change when a coach leaves. Now that Golden is back he wants to find out why Golden [interviewed] and if he really is planning to be there for the long haul."

Tunsil said Valentine has communicated with Golden since he de-committed on Saturday after the U.S. Army All-American Game. But Tunsil said he hasn't spoken to Golden and will reach out to him this week if he doesn't hear from him soon.

"Travonte loves UM, the small class rooms like here at Champagnat," Tunsil said. "His mom is close to him here. It's all about sitting down with Golden and getting on the same page. He has a great relationship with their coaches, coach Hurlie Brown. He's not asking for any starting job to be promised or anything like that. He knows nothing is given. It has to be earned."

Valentine, ranked the eighth-best defensive tackle in the country by 247Sports, named LSU his leader after the U.S. Army Game. Tunsil said Valentine plans on visiting UM and LSU before he makes his final decision on Signing Day. He said Valentine could also end up visiting Alabama or Kentucky before then.

"He just doesn't want to go somewhere and then there is a coaching change," Tunsil said. "People have been badmouthing him on Facebook and Twitter since he de-committed. It really isn't fair to the kid. He just wants to see what's going on."

Tunsil said any rumors about Valentine having academic issues and not being able to qualify at UM aren't true.

"He's got the grades and the test score. It's always been a core class issue and he's been taking care of that with online classes and here," Tunsil said. "Travonte could qualify at any school in America except the Ivy Leagues probably."

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umia...want-sit-down-with-golden-.html#storylink=cpy



Someone lying then.

 

[Gatorhater]

This guy seems like the good one so hopefully he leads TV back here

He committed to Miami not Golden so if he don't want to be a CANE ****"em He don't stop this train. Plenty of recruits has decommitted over the years and the Canes won without them. You can't miss something you never had.

Normally I'd agree but this is the DT we have not had in a decade. We need all of the one in this class, b ut expecially him. He look like the beast we must have. In a class with Kaaya, Chad, 2 of the 4 best RBs in So FL, and a whole line of olinemen, Valentine is still the most important recruit. It is DTs like him that make everyone esle on the defense better. We still have other good DT in this class, better than we have had in long time, but TV just seems special. And he also seems to be getting better. Not some kid who peaked as junior and is traveling on hype.

 

[caneaddict]

These are the battles u gotta win and are looked back on after successful runs as key moments

 

[ScubaCane]

Most important recruit in this class, Al needs to work some magic to get him back

 

[itsacanething]

Most important recruit in this class, Al needs to work some magic to get him back

pete probably knows better than me but it seems like TV wants to be here and while there might be negatives he will ultimately come back to the fold.

 

[NoahZach]

Pete--Are grade issues still a concern with him? Is some of the LSU noise motivated by concerns about qualifying?

 

[Hurracanes]

This Valentine situation is going to say a lot about Golden as a recruiter. He needs to close this deal.

 

[CANE4LIFE]

This feels to me like something out of AG's hands or any one else. Something here does not smell right and hasnt for a while. Constant rumors about grade issues, but the coach insists he will qualify. Kid goes out of his way to talk about how much he loves UM and Hurlie and wants to be here, then is constantly flirting with LSU and decommits and immidiately says LSU leads, now he's open again. His coach downplays it all saying its just about AG and stability, but this is the 3rd time the kid has decommitted from a school. You also have Genron whose been shopping this kid around, and trying to push him to LSU.

This has dirty situation written all over it. Am not accusing the kid per say, but people around him. Something just seems very off here to me. These situations dont usually end well for us, so Ill keep my fingers crossed, but am not going to hold my breath.

 

[Jassid82]

Elite proxy, I normally don't agree with u but u hit that joint on the head! I will rep later!

I don't blame Valentine. Not one bit. He wants to make sure golden is here to stay and actually wants to be here. We all saw his BS press conference and the radio interview. Al sounds like a guy that doesn't want to be here. And if all had went perfect, he would be in happy valley right now.

The kid just wants to look Al in his eye and make sure the U is where he wants to be. I got no issue with that.

 

[Canesfan1899]

Most important recruit outside of Kaaya.

 

[CANE4LIFE]

Elite proxy, I normally don't agree with u but u hit that joint on the head! I will rep later!

I don't blame Valentine. Not one bit. He wants to make sure golden is here to stay and actually wants to be here. We all saw his BS press conference and the radio interview. Al sounds like a guy that doesn't want to be here. And if all had went perfect, he would be in happy valley right now.

The kid just wants to look Al in his eye and make sure the U is where he wants to be. I got no issue with that.

Come on dude. You are better than that.

I have no doubt that AG's status is something the kid is thinking about, but that is not what is driving this train. There has been a smoldering fire here for a while with TV. Every interview is "I love Miami, BUT LSU....." It is a fact that Genron, a notorious street agent, who doesnt even pretend to hide his shenanighans, is deeply involved with his recruitment, there have been rumors of Grade issues all along, and he keeps popping up with new teams, like Kentucky, where kids with horrible grades usually end up. He's also committed and decommitted now several times throughout the process. This was always going to be a battle and a "hold on to your butts" type situation.

Honestly, this has the $$$ feel all over it. This reminds me of the Patrick Peterson situation down to the LETTER. Kid was all about us... BUT... LSU..... and this went on and on, and every time, that BUT LSU.... fire kept getting more and more bizarre. Kept insisting he loved us..... BUT LSU...... and you had the heavy rumors of stuff going on all over the place, and sure enough....... we know how that went down.

This is par for the course when LSU goes hard after a kid down here. I freaking swear its like a screenplay for a movie that we have seen over and over again. As soon as LSU got involved in a big way, and looked like they were going all in on TV, it was a HUGE warning flag. This is how they do it in the $EC. Its not every kid, and not every year, but when they find a kid like this, that they really want, and they usually come from a poor background, they find a way $$$ to pull them in.

 

[Peter Ariz]

Pete--Are grade issues still a concern with him? Is some of the LSU noise motivated by concerns about qualifying?

Champagnat Catholic capped off a championship season last month with the help of recently decommitted Travonte Valentine. Head Coach Mike Tunsil explained Valentine’s impact on the team this season.

“He was the missing piece. He brought everybody’s game up to a higher level and made people around him better,” said Tunsil.

Valentine came into Champagnat with a reputation of being immature, but his coach says he has grown up in a big way over the past few months.

“Off the field, he’s definitely more reliable. He has not missed a day of study hall and he is doing all of the right things that he needs to do so he can graduate and participate as a student-athlete next year. I’m more happy about the way he’s gotten his life together more than really the football part.”

Tunsil says that the recent rumors of Miami coach Al Golden flirting with Penn State are to blame for Valentine’s decommitment.

“From my conversations with him, it was all about the uncertainty with Al Golden. He’s been with Miami from the summer and he definitely wants to be a part of them, then out of the blue you hear the coach is about to do interview with another school so that probably hurt them. He would rather just decommit and sit back to see how everything is before he has to sign anything.”

Is Miami still an option for Valentine?

“I still think they are in the picture. He has to sit down and talk to Coach Golden and Coach Hurlie (Brown) and the rest of the guys so they can get on the same page.”

The mammoth defensive tackle’s decommitment has made waves throughout the country.

“Since he decommited, basically the whole country has called me about him. He proved this week at the Army practices that he was the top D-Tackle in the country and everyone needs a good D-Tackle. I’ve received over 20 calls from colleges from Southern California to South Florida.”

Tunsil has been adamant that Valentine will qualify despite rumors that he won’t.

“That’s the number one thing I want to sure up and it’s amazing to hear all these people say he’s not going to qualify, but nobody has ever seen his transcripts. I’m not going to get on here and say he’s going to qualify if he wasn’t. If he was not going to qualify then I would be contacting JUCOs and Prep Schools. I’m only dealing with 4-year colleges. He is well on pace to qualify.”

The Champanat Head Coach is not sure what Valentine will end up choosing, but is making sure he stays focused.

“I’m just here to support Travonte in anything he does. Everything else is between Coach Golden and him. I just need to help him handle his business in the classroom.”

.

 

[CANE4LIFE]

Yes, but qualify for WHO? Most top players dont go to Kentucky because its such a great academic, or championship program in Football.

We all know that just "qualifying" bare minimum NCAA is not the same as "qualifying" for UM.

 

[Peter Ariz]

Yes, but qualify for WHO? Most top players dont go to Kentucky because its such a great academic, or championship program in Football.

We all know that just "qualifying" bare minimum NCAA is not the same as "qualifying" for UM.

Tunsil said he would be able to qualify for Miami, Duke, or Stanford.

 

[wvcanefan]

Just my opinion but I'll be surprised if he signs here. Decommits don't usually come back.

 

[PowerIslam aka Sumdumgoy]

Seems like horse **** to me. Golden already spoke to him so what's the hold?

Tunsil told me that he has not spoken to them.

Then it's obvious staff moved on.

 

[japancane]

Staff hasn't moved on.

Valentine may have grades to get in but I have a feeling that his transcripts may be a mess.

Could be something going on with Genron, could be the Valentine camp has issues with how he's going to be used in this D. Can't blame a kid who plays DT in being interested in LSU.

 

[NoahZach]

Pete--Are grade issues still a concern with him? Is some of the LSU noise motivated by concerns about qualifying?

Champagnat Catholic capped off a championship season last month with the help of recently decommitted Travonte Valentine. Head Coach Mike Tunsil explained Valentine’s impact on the team this season.

“He was the missing piece. He brought everybody’s game up to a higher level and made people around him better,” said Tunsil.

Valentine came into Champagnat with a reputation of being immature, but his coach says he has grown up in a big way over the past few months.

“Off the field, he’s definitely more reliable. He has not missed a day of study hall and he is doing all of the right things that he needs to do so he can graduate and participate as a student-athlete next year. I’m more happy about the way he’s gotten his life together more than really the football part.”

Tunsil says that the recent rumors of Miami coach Al Golden flirting with Penn State are to blame for Valentine’s decommitment.

“From my conversations with him, it was all about the uncertainty with Al Golden. He’s been with Miami from the summer and he definitely wants to be a part of them, then out of the blue you hear the coach is about to do interview with another school so that probably hurt them. He would rather just decommit and sit back to see how everything is before he has to sign anything.”

Is Miami still an option for Valentine?

“I still think they are in the picture. He has to sit down and talk to Coach Golden and Coach Hurlie (Brown) and the rest of the guys so they can get on the same page.”

The mammoth defensive tackle’s decommitment has made waves throughout the country.

“Since he decommited, basically the whole country has called me about him. He proved this week at the Army practices that he was the top D-Tackle in the country and everyone needs a good D-Tackle. I’ve received over 20 calls from colleges from Southern California to South Florida.”

Tunsil has been adamant that Valentine will qualify despite rumors that he won’t.

“That’s the number one thing I want to sure up and it’s amazing to hear all these people say he’s not going to qualify, but nobody has ever seen his transcripts. I’m not going to get on here and say he’s going to qualify if he wasn’t. If he was not going to qualify then I would be contacting JUCOs and Prep Schools. I’m only dealing with 4-year colleges. He is well on pace to qualify.”

The Champanat Head Coach is not sure what Valentine will end up choosing, but is making sure he stays focused.

“I’m just here to support Travonte in anything he does. Everything else is between Coach Golden and him. I just need to help him handle his business in the classroom.”

.

Yeah, I read all that. I was curious about UM and whether Pete had heard something different than what the coach says for public consumption. Aside from all the speculation about $, grades might be a reason for a decommit, no matter what is said in public.