Carrington Valentine

[tdcat]

I have been reading a lot of positive press about Valentine and it appears the Packers view him as starting material going forward. I find that very interesting for a number of reasons.

1. UK is putting quite a few DBs in the NFL;

2. UK fan reaction when he opted for the draft included a lot of disbelief that he was pro material;

3. Many UK fans didn't appear to recognize his development or appreciate his ability;

4.Hairston seems to be on a similar trajectory; and

5. Nichols commitment last year suggests high school recruits are starting to notice UK produces NFL DBs.

 

[mrschwump]

I have been reading a lot of positive press about Valentine and it appears the Packers view him as starting material going forward. I find that very interesting for a number of reasons.

1. UK is putting quite a few DBs in the NFL;

2. UK fan reaction when he opted for the draft included a lot of disbelief that he was pro material;

3. Many UK fans didn't appear to recognize his development or appreciate his ability;

4.Hairston seems to be on a similar trajectory; and

5. Nichols commitment last year suggests high school recruits are starting to notice UK produces NFL DBs.

Mentioned a few weeks ago that Chris Collins put Keilan Smith and CV in the league, Phillips could be drafted this year, Hairston will likely be a pre-season All SEC pick and a draft pick next year. You're right good selling points.

 

[Deeeefense]

Over the years I've noticed a small minority of our fan base, snaps to judgement on a player based on one or two bad plays. I saw it happen with Mike Hartline, Winston Guy, Valentine and others.

In the case of Valentine he was forced to play a lot as a freshmen when he was a bit raw and got beat a few times, of course he later matured into a very good SEC DB.

 

[tdcat]

Over the years I've noticed a small minority of our fan base, snaps to judgement on a player based on one or two bad plays. I saw it happen with Mike Hartline, Winston Guy, Valentine and others.

In the case of Valentine he was forced to play a lot as a freshmen when he was a bit raw and got beat a few times, of course he later matured into a very good SEC DB.

Never understood the Hartline hate. He was a good QB with some of the better stats for QBs at Kentucky.

 

[mrschwump]

Never understood the Hartline hate. He was a good QB with some of the better stats for QBs at Kentucky.

Hartline is last UK QB to throw for 3000+ yds/season.

 

[bballcat4]

Sad reality is that the internet makes it easy and common to blast other people. It’s prevalent on every social media platform.

To your point, players get beat sometimes. I hope CV excels.

I’m not a good enough evaluator of db play to know if Hairston’s rise was due to multiple pick 6s or excellent play.

We’ve all watched dbs drop pick 6s. I’ll give him credit for making the play. But, a couple of those were gift wrapped for him. (Again, he made the play!)

Hope Hairston makes another jump this year and a couple others join him.

 

[mrschwump]

Sad reality is that the internet makes it easy and common to blast other people. It’s prevalent on every social media platform.

To your point, players get beat sometimes. I hope CV excels.

I’m not a good enough evaluator of db play to know if Hairston’s rise was due to multiple pick 6s or excellent play.

We’ve all watched dbs drop pick 6s. I’ll give him credit for making the play. But, a couple of those were gift wrapped for him. (Again, he made the play!)

Hope Hairston makes another jump this year and a couple others join him.

These players mentioned, CV, Hairston, etc, have one thing in common....excellent recovery speed. DBs get beat at times but the DBs who have the speed to make up ground lost while the ball is in the air are the difference makers. Two of the best who played at UK in that regard was now retired Trevard Lindley and current NY Jet Brandon Echols.

 

[WildcatforLife1965]

If you look at Mike Hartlines’ numbers they were pretty nice for the time. He endured way too much harsh treatment here. Not sure what he’s does now but I hope he knows he was appreciated here. I’m trying to remember if Randall Cobb was playing some quarterback at the time. Randall Cobb could play any position he wanted. Never could get how UT let him slip out of Tennessee

 

[STL_Cat]

Never understood the Hartline hate. He was a good QB with some of the better stats for QBs at Kentucky.

Hartline was just a victim of being the guy after Andre Woodson. In a vacuum he’s one of the better QB’s we’ve had in a couple decades

 

[The-Hack]

1. UK is putting quite a few DBs in the NFL;

Any top rated running back, or secondary player needs their head examined if UK is not in their Top 5.

Three years and drafted!!

 

[JrandoUK]

Hartline was just a victim of being the guy after Andre Woodson. In a vacuum he’s one of the better QB’s we’ve had in a couple decades

And the PI fiasco before the bowl game didn’t help matters any! Got suspended and we looked like dog poop in game…

 

[azubuikefan]

Hartline was a solid QB. It also helped he had a great WR group to throw to as well.

 

[KentuckyGentleman]

My hesitation with Valentine at the time was he had the chance to come back and develop into an All-SEC caliber DB. I was really excited to see that because you could tell he got better each year. But he bet on himself and declared early, tested well in the combine with good measurements, and lucked out into a good organization with Green Bay. Hope he continues to have success and is an ambassador for UK.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

CB is much like OL in that most fans only notice them when they get beat.

I took heat on this board when I kept pointing out how good he was. The interesting part is most fans finally came around his last year when they saw him tap that fade to himself for an int. The irony is imo that was maybe his weakest season.

That last season he chased ints way too much and it cost us big time. UT killed us letting him bite up and throwing over him. Vandy hit a big play or two much the same iirc. So did a few other teams.

Jmo but max is a better college cb. He plays responsibilities way better. He doesn't hunt ints. He's much better in the run game. Just needs to show durability.

 

[Eccain01]

CB is much like OL in that most fans only notice them when they get beat.

I took heat on this board when I kept pointing out how good he was. The interesting part is most fans finally came around his last year when they saw him tap that fade to himself for an int. The irony is imo that was maybe his weakest season.

That last season he chased ints way too much and it cost us big time. UT killed us letting him bite up and throwing over him. Vandy hit a big play or two much the same iirc. So did a few other teams.

Jmo but max is a better college cb. He plays responsibilities way better. He doesn't hunt ints. He's much better in the run game. Just needs to show durability.

Yep. Think he would’ve been drafted higher had he come back but it’s worked out for him

 

[satcheluk]

I have been reading a lot of positive press about Valentine and it appears the Packers view him as starting material going forward. I find that very interesting for a number of reasons.

1. UK is putting quite a few DBs in the NFL;

2. UK fan reaction when he opted for the draft included a lot of disbelief that he was pro material;

3. Many UK fans didn't appear to recognize his development or appreciate his ability;

4.Hairston seems to be on a similar trajectory; and

5. Nichols commitment last year suggests high school recruits are starting to notice UK produces NFL DBs.

If memory serves, he didn't start off the year great, so his jump to the NFL just seemed a bit premature, but that feeling was likely a bit of myopia because he would have been exceptional if he had returned for another year.