Chidi Valentine-Okeke to LSU: Tigers Land 4-Star OT Prospect By Matt Fitzgerald , Featured Columnist Jan 29, 2015 Chidi Valentine-Okeke, a 4-star offensive tackle out of Faith Baptist Christian Academy in Ludowici, Georgia, announced he would be attending LSU on Friday. Chad Simmons of Rivals.com reported the news as Valentine-Okeke made his decision: Valentine-Okeke is featured in 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 5 offensive tackle and No. 102 prospect overall in the class of 2015. The gifted Nigerian star was initially a 2016 recruit but was reclassified upon transferring from Champagnat Catholic High School in Miami, Florida. However, as Chad Carson of 247Sports reports, a strong performance in the Army Bowl boosted Valentine-Okeke's stock in a big way: A fast track to college was fortuitous for LSU, who may have landed a key program cornerstone by getting Valentine-Okeke to commit. Still a raw player with little football experience, Valentine-Okeke is a worthy investment due to his tremendous upside. Despite his limited time on the gridiron, goals are already gaudy for Valentine-Okeke, who already has an idea of who he wants to emulate. That would be the 2014 NFL draft's No. 2 overall pick, former Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson. Valentine-Okeke revealed this amid the Tigers' courtship of him, catalyzed by someone he learned from in a July camp in Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Grimes. "He's a nice coach," said Valentine-Okeke in November 2014, per AL.com's Wesley Sinor. "He coached Greg Robinson and I'm looking to be like him. That shows he knows what he is doing." Credit: 247Sports As is referenced on Valentine-Okeke's 247Sports profile, he only arrived in the United States in August 2013, yet he's still shown the skill set to explode onto major programs' radars. The 6'6", 305-pound specimen is quick, has naturally good hands and has the athleticism to get to the second level as a blocker. Since Valentine-Okeke has flashed as both a run blocker and pass protector, he could plug in anywhere on the offensive line, but LSU will likely give him every chance at the all-important left tackle spot. By the time he's in his third year on campus, there's reason to believe Valentine-Okeke could burst onto the scene as one of the nation's premier players in the trenches.
It is good to see the other side, right? Word out Jeff Grimes and Les was with him last night to seal the deal.
