Five sticking out to Valentine
While Illinois defensive tackle Vincent Valentine maintains that he doesn't have any favorites he did admit over the weekend that five schools are "sticking out", which bodes well for each of those programs.
Valentine will be taking unofficial visits to each of those five schools over the summer. How those trips go could have a huge impact on the direction of the process in the fall.
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"I won't have my top ten until probably the beginning of July," Valentine said. "I'm trying to get in all the visits I can. By then I'll probably have a top ten."
So which schools will he be visiting?
"I definitely want to visit Nebraska, Tennessee, Florida, Wisconsin and Iowa right now," he said.
"I picked those five just because I've been talking to their coaches and I'm pretty interested in seeing what they have in store for me."
Trips to four of those five schools will be new experiences for Valentine. He's already been to Wisconsin, though.
"I loved it," he said of his time at UW. "It was a great campus and a great atmosphere. It's just a great all-around place. I love the stadium, too. I just had a good time."
In addition to Wisconsin, Valentine has visited Oklahoma and Illinois.
Each of the schools he's visiting this summer have offered except for Tennessee.
Location could be something that plays into his ultimate decision.
"I'm looking to stay close to home," he admitted. "But if a school stands out to me I'm willing to go a long way away."