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88 DAYS TO KICKOFF: Dayton Valentine

In which BracketCat counts down the 88th day until kickoff with a profile of tight end Dayton Valentine.

By BracketCat
Dayton Valentine eventually could match his numerical predecessor, Torell Miller, as a blocker, but it likely won't be this season.
Dayton Valentine eventually could match his numerical predecessor, Torell Miller, as a blocker, but it likely won't be this season.
Brett Deering
DaytonValentine

#88 Dayton Valentine
True Freshman
6-4 | 260
Baldwin, Kan.

Bio

Position: Tight End

Previous College: None

Projection: Redshirt

Status: On Scholarship

Dayton Lee Valentine (b. March 25, 1995) was slated to grayshirt in 2013, but I though his inclusion on last year's roster meant he wouldn't. Turns out I was wrong — he delayed his enrollment to this spring, after all.

Since this time last year, Valentine has switched from No. 32 to a more conventional tight end number, No. 88, and put on 20 pounds. He's well on his way to developing into a weapon, but he still is 99-percent certain to redshirt.

Valentine was selected to play in the 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl. He was named a first-team All-State Class 4A defensive end by The Topeka Capital-Journal and an honorable-mention all-state selection by VarsityKansas.com.

He played under head coach Mike Berg at Baldwin High School, where he helped the Bulldogs to earn a 7-4 record during his senior season in 2012 as they advanced to Round 2 of the Kansas Class 4A State playoffs.

A star in track and field who won the 4A state championship in discus and shot put as a junior, Valentine will be a tight end. He caught two passes for 13 yards for the White team in the spring game. Watch his highlights here.