Jesuit's Workhorse Going To The 'Dogs?

Only three months ago, Kevin Valenti's career appeared destined for some obscure college football outpost. Now, the ex-Jesuit tailback may be headed for college football's mecca.

Or more specifically, the Southeastern Conference.

Valenti, whose 1,600 rushing yards led Hillsborough County in the 2006 regular season, said tonight he will leave Tuesday for Starkville, Miss., where he will contemplate whether to accept Mississippi State's offer to join the team as a preferred walk-on.

If he doesn't like it, he'll shoot over to Thibodaux, La., where a partial scholarship offer from Division I-AA Nicholls State awaits.

"Three months ago, I thought I was going up to the frozen tundra of New York and playing Division III," said Valenti, whose size (5-foot-10, 182 pounds) didn't exactly woo recruiters.

"It's kind of crazy. Right now, honestly, I'm leaning a little toward Mississippi State."

The backfield workhorse for Jesuit, Valenti ran for all 121 of his team's yards in a one-quarter district tiebreaker win against Palmetto on Oct. 30. Four nights later, he ran for 165 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-17 triumph against Tampa Catholic.

But until hooking up with Tyrone Keys, an MSU hall of famer and local philanthropist, Valenti said he was receiving overtures only from places such as Division III Union (N.Y.) College and DePauw (Ind.) University.

A former Chicago Bears defensive end, Keys is founder of All Sports Community Service, a non-profit organization headquartered next to Jesuit's campus that helps local youngsters get into college.

"(Keys) contacted my dad and my dad contacted him," said Valenti, who used to play football with Keys' son. "And I guess they started talking about it."

Valenti said Keys will accompany he and his father on this week's trip to Starkville. Valenti said MSU has indicated it wants to try him at safety, but the Times first-team all-county pick remains hopeful he can get a crack at tailback.

"If I like it I'm just going to stay and report," Valenti said. "But if not I think we're just going to go on down to Louisiana and take their offer."