Head coach Al Golden and his Miami Hurricanes desperately need defensive tackles and the program appears to have recently picked up a good one as four-star Travonte Valentine has given his verbal commitment for the 2014 class.
Valentine measures in around 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, having chosen Miami over Louisville, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Georgia, Florida State, Tennessee and several others. At one point Valentine was listed as a Gators commit, but has since switched sides.
Valentine marks the twentieth commit for the 2014 class and is listed as one of the top ffty players nationwide. He played the majority of his high school career at Bayside in Palm Bay, but has since transferred to Champagnat Catholic in Hialeah.
Golden and the Hurricanes have missed out on a handful of defensive tackles, be it JUCO transfers the past two seasons, or a kid like Jay-Nard Bostwick, a four-star who signed with Florida this past February, though Miami was a finalist.
The Gators also picked up verbal commits from two four-star defensive tackle prospects Anthony Moten and Khairi Clark for 2014 – Moten from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale and Clark out of Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood.
Last week Miami picked up a commitment from Booker T. Washington defensive end Demetrius Jackson, an under the radar kid yet to play a down of high school football, but a basketball star the past few years. Jackson clocks in at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds and is creating quite a buzz regarding his raw and natural athletic talent.
Arkansas was first to offer and there were also offers from Louisville and FIU, but Jackson, a lifelong Miami fan, chose the hometown Hurricanes when the offer rolled in and looks to be one of those lower-ranked kids whose stock will climb during his senior season.
Welcome to The U, Valentine and Jackson.
Valentine is an important get for the staff. We need DTs bad and our defense will never be as potent as it was until we shore up the interior line. The staff is doing a great job in getting the kids who want to be here. Last year we got burned by a couple of guys on Signing Day and I like the fact that we’re not waiting for as many guys this year. Get on or get out of the way. I hope we can still turn moten as well. If not, so be it. It’s about the guys who want to be here.