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Hialeah Champagnat Catholic four-star defensive tackle Travonte Valentine committed to the University of Miami on Wednesday, becoming the 20th non-binding pledge in UM’s 2014 class.
Among all senior defensive tackles nationally, Valentine is ranked fourth by 247sports.com, 11th by ESPN and 20th by rivals.com. ESPN ranks him the 150th best prospect nationally.
Valentine had 35 scholarship offers and chose UM over Alabama, Tennessee and Louisville. Florida, FSU, Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma were among his other offers. Valentine at one time was orally committed to Louisville, and later to UF, before changing his mind. He de-committed from the Gators in February.
He played at Palm Bay Bayside before transferring this year to Champagnat.
“He’s great – one of the top five run stuffers in the country,” Champagnat coach Mike Tunsil said. “And he’s actually a better pass rusher. I’ve never seen a kid with a first step like that. He’s a workaholic, does great in the class room.”
Valentine committed during an unofficial visit to UM on Wednesday, Tunsil said. He originally planned to pick a school on his birthday, Nov. 15, but moved up his timetable.
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