Florida Gators defensive lineman Antonio Valentino signs free agent contract following 2022 NFL Draft

Former Florida Gators defensive lineman Antonio Valentino signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Giants on Saturday evening, per Gators Online’s Nick de la Torre. He started in eight of the 12 games he appeared in during the 2021-2022 season for the Gators. One of his best performances of the season came when Valentino racked up five tackles and a sack against Missouri on Nov. 20.

He also blocked an extra point attempt against the Kentucky Wildcats on Oct. 2.

Before his time this year at Florida, he spent four seasons suiting up for the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Columbus, Ohio native racked up 51 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks in 40 games. Following his 2020 season with Penn State, the Ohio native was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the league’s coaches and media. Valentino also racked up accolades from Pro Football Focus, earning third team All-Big Ten honors in 2020. He matched his career-high with three tackles against the Michigan Wolverines that year, too.

During his redshirt freshman season at Penn State–Valentino appeared in six games and also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

According to the On3 Consensus Rankings for the 2016 cycle, Valentino was rated a three-star prospect. He was also rated as the No. 98 defensive lineman prospect in America for that class, according to the same rankings. Valentino played his high school football for Westerville North (Westerville, Ohio) where he racked up 54 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles during his senior season. The 6-foot-3, 312-pounder also was named Associated Press All-Ohio Division II second team, as well as earning first-team All-Central honors from the AP as a senior.

Valentino was known by “Antonio Shelton” when he played at Penn State, but he decided to change his last name to his middle name.