Carrington Valentine Declares for NFL Draft, Opts Out of Music City Bowl

Kentucky cornerback Carrington Valentine has played his last snap at the University of Kentucky. Thursday morning the two-year starter from Cincinnati announced he will be an early entry into the NFL Draft. He is also opting out of the Music City Bowl against Iowa.

The news comes less than 24 hours after rumors circulated that the cornerback could transfer from Kentucky to Louisville. He quickly dismissed those rumors, but there was a hint of truth behind it. Valentine was ready to end his career at Kentucky and take his talents to the next level.

It’s unclear where Carrington Valentine could be picked in the 2023 NFL Draft. At one point he was considered a top 10 cornerback in the draft by Mel Kiper. The ESPN analyst had him four spots outside of the top ten in new rankings released yesterday.

A three-star cornerback in the class of 2020 from Cincinnati Moeller High School, Valentine emerged as a starter in his second season at Kentucky. He played more snaps than any other Wildcat defender in 2021 and the inexperienced defender was often targeted by opponents. Valentine bounced back in a big way this fall. He tallied 10 pass break-ups, ranking No. 6 among all SEC cornerbacks. He also had 46 tackles (33 solo), one interception, one sack and one fumble recovery.

In addition to Valentine’s departure, Keidron Smith‘s eligibility expires after the Music City Bowl. The Ole Miss transfer cornerback was a second team All-SEC selection in his one season in Lexington. Andru Phillips and Maxwell Hairston are the next men up, but Kentucky will certainly be hitting the transfer portal to add depth to the secondary. Vince Marrow visited Ohio State transfer and Kentucky native Jantzen Dunn on Wednesday. Syracuse’s Duce Chestnut may also be a player the Wildcats pursue this offseason.