LSU freshman Travonte Valentine eligible for spring practice in 2015 LSU freshman defensive tackle Travonte Valentine is eligible to practice next spring with the Tigers. (CaneInsider.com) Print By Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune Follow on Twitter on December 16, 2014 at 5:14 PM, updated December 16, 2014 at 5:46 PM LSU freshman defensive tackle Travonte Valentine is eligible to practice with the Tigers during spring drills, a source close to LSU said. Valentine, a 6-feet-3, 335-pounder from Miami who was ranked the No. 2 defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com and No. 3 by Rivals.com, confirmed the news on his Facebook page and in his Twitter account, saying he scored a 2.5 grade point average during the fall semester and that he was prepping for spring drills. The NCAA Clearinghouse in August certified Valentine to join the Tigers but a newly-enacted SEC rule allowed for re-examination of his high school transcripts from Champagnat Catholic High School near Miami. Valentine joined the team in October and has been practicing but was not eligible to play. As a senior, he helped his team to a 14-0 record and the 2A state title with 84.5 tackles, 31.5 for loss and 16 sacks. He picked LSU over hometown Miami.
