Valentine-Okeke sets top 5
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Four-star offensive tackle Chidi Valentine-Okeke said he has a new top five and plans to reclassify now that he's with a new school in Georgia.
Though he has no clear favorites, he's now living in the state of Georgia and was on hand for the Bulldogs' game this weekend against Tennessee. It was his first visit to a college campus this football season.
Valentine-Okeke, who is from Nigeria, was thrilled to see the game in person.
"It was nice," Valentine-Okeke said. "They played really good. I thought I was going to watch the game on TV and I got to see it live. Everything looked great. The people were cool, the coaches and players were nice, they have good fans - everything about them was good."
Being from Nigeria, he also offered a candid perspective on his thoughts of college recruiters.
"I don't really get into what coaches tell me," he said. "I like what I see with my own eyes. All the schools say the same stuff. All the coaches are nice. For me, I need to see things myself."
Valentine-Okeke isn't sure when he'll take his next visit, but assumes Georgia will be a natural destination given his proximity to the school. He also hopes to visit Florida State and Alabama.
"Maybe when we have our bye week I can go to one of those schools," he said.
Valentine-Okeke has never played in a high school football game. He was thought to be enrolled at Hialeah (Fla.) Champagnat Catholic last season but never saw the field. He was still with that school until the offseason, when he arrived in Georgia.
He's been waiting for a school to accept him, and he said that school is Stockbridge (Ga.) First Baptist Christian North.
Valentine-Okeke also said he's reclassifying to 2015, which now pushes his recruiting process to the forefront.
Here's what he had to say about his top five:
Georgia: Georgia is closer to me than all of the schools. During the summer, I went there for camp and it feels like home for me because that's where I am now, right here in Georgia. It feels like home to me and it's a nice school and everything.
Florida State: I went there for junior day and I was there this summer. I've been there three times. I like Florida State. I like the coaches. I've been talking to coach Trickett and Abdul Bello. I would like playing with my friend (Bello). And coach Trickett is nice and he knows what he's doing. I like his coaching and everything. I talked to the head coach too and he was real nice.
Alabama: Everybody knows they've got a good football program, and their players are good. I've been there. The O-line coach is a good coach. I talked to coach Saban too when I was at camp. I like the players and their maturity. They gel and it's a very nice program.
Auburn: The school is nice.
Clemson: I haven't heard from them in awhile. It was nice being there during the summer for camp. It's a nice school but I forget the names of the coaches. But I still like the school, football-wise.
