Signee Spotlight: Colton Valencia
Missouri City, TX
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Hightower High School
Defensive Back
5-11, 193, 4.49
5.5
Senior Honors: First-team all-district selection, VYPE Magazine first-team All-Greater Houston
Senior Stats: 87 tackles, 12 pass breakups, six tackles for loss, three interceptions, two sacks, one fumble recovery
Other schools offering scholarships: Oklahoma State, Oregon, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona State, Iowa State, Houston
His thoughts and opinions:
Who is your favorite football player of all time? Why?
Sean Taylor. I liked his passion for the game and the way that he respected the game and the way that he played it.
Who is your role model?
The only role model I've ever had in my life is my mom and I think she's done a good job.
What is the best football team you've ever seen?
I forget what year it was, but it was the Miami Hurricanes when they played Ohio State for the national championship. That was the game that Willis McGahee tore his knee up.
An up close and personal look:
Did you ever have an embarrassing moment playing football?
You were at this game, it was the Dulles game this past year. The dude caught a stop route and turned to go upfield. He was on the sideline and I was about to hit him at an angle. He stopped and planted as soon as I was about to hit him, because I was trying to kill him, and caught me with a little juke move. It was kind of embarrassing, but I kept my eye on the ball and still stripped him.
Do you have a pre-game ritual?
I pray. That's every game. Before every game, I thank The Lord for letting me play another game.
Are you superstitious?
No, I'm not really superstitious. I stick to my routine of thanking The Lord for blessing me and letting me wake up today, but that's not out of superstition.
If you weren't playing defensive back, what position would you want to play? Why?
Shoot, running back. The ball is in your hands and you get to make the play and I like scoring. Back in middle school, that's what I played and I enjoyed scoring touchdowns. That's why I enjoy making interceptions, so I can try to go score.
A closer look at Texas A&M for him:
What position will you be playing at A&M?
Right now, I talked to coach Malone, and I'm projected to play safety. They know I can play corner. I can play nickelback because I can cover. They say I'm playing safety, but I'm the type of guy that can play corner, too.
Do you plan to redshirt?
No, I don't. They're expecting me to train hard right now. I'm getting my workouts in and they're expecting great things out of me. They expect me to come there in tip-top shape and put me in to see what I can do.
What is your strength on the field?
My instincts – knowing the game and reacting.
What is the one thing you need to work on to play at the next level?
Trying not to be overly aggressive sometimes.
How often do you work out and what is your routine?
I work out Monday through Friday. Saturday, I just get a quick run in. I don't lift weights on the weekend. Monday through Friday, I'm hitting it hard every day usually from 1:00 until 3:30.
Personal preferences:
What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I usually just work out, come home and get a meal in and basically just get ready to come out there to Texas A&M. I also sleep.
What is your favorite food?
Of course, my mom's cooking. She makes this seafood soup that I love.
What is your favorite song or performer?
I'd have to say Lil Wayne. He is the best out there, to me.
Do you have a nickname?
"CV."
Do you have a major picked out yet?
Not right now. I'm undecided.
A look at the recruiting process:
What one thing was the determining factor in your picking A&M?
There's tons of things I could name, but if I had to choose just one I'd have to say just Texas A&M all around – the university and the people that are there. The coaches are wonderful. I trust them and obviously they trust me a lot too because they expect me to come in and do great things for A&M. It's just A&M all around – the opportunity to become a better man in life and not just a student or football player.
When did you know you were going to sign with A&M?
I knew I was going to go to A&M when I committed.
If you hadn't have signed with A&M, where would you have gone?
I probably would have gone to Oklahoma State.
Did any schools try to come in and sway you at the last minute?
Yes. Oklahoma State, Colorado, Iowa State and Oregon all did.
What coach at A&M did you get the closest to?
Coach Malone, for sure.
Did the A&M coaches do anything unique in their recruiting of you?
It wasn't necessarily unique, but they were just being honest with me the whole time. They haven't changed anything. Everything they said during the recruiting process still stands. They weren't shooting me any lies. They called me a lot. Coach Malone and I had a great relationship through the recruiting process. He made sure I stayed up on my books and studied the game. He didn't call and say, "Just come to A&M, come to A&M, come to A&M." He called me and asked me about my upcoming opponent, what they liked to do and all that kind of stuff.
What was your favorite moment during the recruiting process?
When I took my official visit to A&M. That was my breaking point right there when I just knew I was going to be an Aggie. It was like going back home. When I got to be there and communicate with the players and spend time with them outside of football, that just really showed me what A&M was about. Towards the end, to be honest, I was thinking if I wanted to go to A&M or go somewhere else but after I took that visit, that was it for me.
Did you really click with any current players at A&M or incoming players during the process?
Yeah, I got to know Chris Henderson and he's real funny. I got to know Sean Porter real well and I got to know Jonathan Stewart. A lot of the guys are really good guys. I already knew Kalvin Guyton and Christine Michael. I see us all coming in and doing what we gotta do to help Texas A&M.
What was your favorite part of your official visit?
I liked going out and hanging out with all the guys. I know that you're going to be with your teammates dang near 24/7, not just on the field all the time. Being off the field with my teammates, just going out and hanging out and stuff, that was real fun to me.
The future and goals for A&M and beyond:
What number would you like to wear at A&M?
I want to carry on my high school number, No. 1.
What is your goal for the 2009 football season?
My goal is to start and play anywhere I can. I'm not coming in to A&M to sit on the bench for four years. I'm coming in to compete. Scholarships aren't free – somebody's paying for it. I'm going to come in and do my job. I'm not coming in just to sit on the bench and watch the game. I want to win games at Texas A&M and I'll do that any way possible that I can.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
Hopefully retired or something from the pros. If God blesses me with that, that would be wonderful. I want to be a coach one day. I always want to be around football all my life. In 15 years, I'm pretty sure I'll still be around football either playing it or coaching it.
And for the fans:
Would you like to say anything to the A&M fans?
Last year is last year and that's in the past. We're moving forward. We're coming to win and nothing less.
***For other spotlights, check out the Signee Spotlight Master List