Carrington Valentine, left, had one sack for UK last season. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Carrington Valentine certainly was telling the truth Wednesday when he said rumors about him transferring to Louisville were false. What the Kentucky junior cornerback didn’t say then, though, was that he was leaving UK for the NFL.
The two-year starter from Cincinnati announced Thursday he would not be playing in the Music City Bowl because he is putting his name into the NFL draft just like quarterback Will Levis and running back Chris Rodriguez are doing. However, he’s not as highly regarded by draft analysts.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper has him currently as the 14th best cornerback in the draft rankings but he was ranked sixth among SEC cornerbacks.
“I truly believe that I have accomplished all there is to accomplish at the collegiate level and therefore forego my final year of eligibility,” Valentine said on Twitter. “I wish all of my teammates the best of luck in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31st. We have forged some of the most memorable moments together. I will truly miss every one of you.”
He has blossomed into a very reliable defensive back at UK. He was the lowest ranked player in UK’s 2020 signing class but the three-star prospect had 48 tackles, including 30 solo stops, along with 10 pass break-ups in 2022 while playing more snaps than any other UK defensive player. He also had one sack, one fumble recovery and one interception. In his three-year career, he had 119 tackles.
“There are many life lessons I have learned at my time at the University of Kentucky,” Valentine said. “Some of those lessons have included patience, humility, gratitude and perseverance to continue to push forward to be the best student athlete and continue my love of playing in the best conference in the country, the SEC.”
Kentucky will also lose its other starting cornerback, Keidron Smith, to graduation but he still plans to play in the bowl game. The Ole Miss transfer cornerback was a second team All-SEC selection.
Andru Phillips and Maxwell Hairston have been the cornerback backups and both return. However, UK is already looking in the transfer portal for help at cornerback next season and within a few hours of Valentine announcing he was headed to the NFL, the Cats got a commitment from Cincinnati transfer JQ Hardaway who had visited UK over the weekend.
247Sports has Hardaway ranked as the No. 3 cornerback in the transfer portal. He played 93 defensive snaps last season and had five tackles and one sack.
The Georgia native was offered by UK in high school by then linebacker coach Jon Sumrall. He played in the Under Armour All-American Game.
4 Responses
I believe the kid is listening to the wrong people. I hope he makes it.
Wow! I didn’t hear he was first team all American and a first-round draft selection. I guess it is time for the NFL and all-star status. Next step is a max contract!
Good Luck, but you still have a lot to learn.
I believe that NIL has really skewed the thinking these kids. My instincts tells me that Carrington is going to end up on a developmental squad with some team. With his current ranking he is going to have a tough row to hoe.
Wrong move for him IMO. Good luck. RJohn this NIL pay for play system is ruining college football, and in many ways so is the portal.