LSU Defensive Tackle Travonte Valentine Heading to Arizona Western

Written by Ryan Wright

The LSU defense suffered another setback on Wednesday with the announcement that Travonte Valentine was transferring to Arizona Western C.C.

Valentine was as prized as a recruit in the nation coming out of Champagnat Catholic High School. The 4-star recruit was in the neighborhood of 30 scholarship offers picking LSU over the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina, USC, UCLA, and in-state powers Florida State, Miami, and Florida.

The now 6’4”, 350 pound, run stopper missed the entire 2014 season over academic issues picking up a redshirt. The issues continued into the spring forcing the talented big man to also miss all of LSU’s practices including the spring game in April.

Back in April when head coach Les Miles was asked about Valentine’s status he stated, “(He has to) do some things academically that he failed to do. We’re doing everything we can to assist him.”

LSU’s 2014 recruiting class was among the best in the nation signing 23 in total that included two 5-star recruits and 14 players ranked as 4-star talents. Since the 2014 season has ended three members of the 2014 recruiting class have transferred; linebacker Clifton Garrett, defensive tackle Trey Lealaimatafao, and now Valentine. All three players ended up at Arizona Western.

The Tigers have two quality defensive tackles returning in Christian LaCouture and Davon Godchaux but the depth behind them with Greg Gilmore, Frank Herron, and Quentin Thomas is an inexperienced and unknown group.

Further complicating matters is the quality of production new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will get out of his defensive ends. Juniors Tashawn Bower and Lewis Neal are expected to get the starting nod but neither player were a factor in 2014.

LSU could be even further behind the eight-ball if tackle Maquedius Bain is suspended for any length of time following an arrest of unauthorized entry into a home. The incident occurred on June 12 Bain and 2014 starting quarterback Anthony Jennings along with Dwayne Thomas entered a home seeking to retrieve property that was believed stolen from Jennings days prior.

Photo credit: scout.com; Travonte Valentine