Kentucky’s Defensive Coordinator: ‘Best Football’ In Front of Valentine

Get to know Green Bay Packers rookie cornerback Carington Valentine through the eyes of Kentucky defensive coordinator and former NFL assistant Brad White.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – To Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White, two games jump to the forefront when discussing Green Bay Packers rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine.

First, was the Wildcats’ Week 2 victory over the University of Florida, a team quarterbacked by Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Valentine broke up three passes to highlight a 26-16 victory in The Swamp.

“That was a big one,” White said of Valentine, a seventh-round pick by Green Bay. “We knew we were going to have to challenge and leave him alone on some islands in that game. We talked about it going into the season. He asked for it. ‘Hey, don’t be afraid to put me out there on an island.’ So, we put him in those situations.

“The fourth-down PBU [shown in the accompanying video] that he had to seal the game, that’s zero-coverage. If he gives that up and misses a tackle, that thing’s going to go for a touchdown. I felt confident in his ability.”

The second came a week later against a much lesser foe, a 31-0 romp against Youngstown State.

“I know it’s not sexy like the SEC, but you see the progression of Carrington,” White said. “He slipped at the line of scrimmage, gave up one down the sideline but, later on that drive, it’s fourth down, we bring pressure to get the ball out of the QB’s hand and they throw a post and he competes all the way through the catch point and rips out the ball against a receiver that used to play for us to preserve the shutout. He also made a big-time play in the red zone with the pick.

“You’ve seen the maturation but his best football’s in front of him.”

Valentine was a two-year starter for the Wildcats. He went from zero interceptions, five passes defensed and a 52 percent completion rate in 2021, according to Sports Info Solutions, to one interception, 11 passes defensed and a 44 percent completion rate in 2022.

“Where I think he made his biggest strides this year was being firmer at the top of the route,” White said. “He needed time to develop in the weight room to develop some strength in his core and his lower half so he could be firmer in and out of the breaks when receivers want to push off at the top of the route.

“Back in ’21, he could get knocked off his pins a little bit at times but much firmer this year, which allowed him to make more plays. The play against Florida on the slant, those are plays where he’s much firmer now than he was in ’21.”

Valentine intercepted only one pass in three seasons, with that being the aforementioned pick against Youngstown State. How does he go from being a playmaker to a game-changer? Catching the ball would be a starting point; only one drafted cornerback had more drops than Valentine’s three, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Corners, PBUs are good but you change the game with interceptions,” White said. “You look for ball production. He had chances with balls that hit his hands over the last couple years that he needs to hone in and squeeze. That’s going to be an area that he needs to improve within his game. Obviously, Green Bay’s going to look for him to finish those plays.”

Before joining Kentucky, White was a member of the Colts’ coaching staff for six seasons. So, he knows what NFL defensive backs look like. Now that Valentine has made it to the NFL, does he have what it takes to stick?

“He does,” White said. “He’s young. He’s a true junior, he was kind of young coming in, anyway. He’s just starting to fill out his man body, so he’ll continue to get firmer. I think his best football’s ahead of him. That’s big. He’s going to need some time to mature within the system and develop, but he’s got the length, he’s got the quick twitch. I absolutely think he’s got the ability to have staying power.”

As is the case with any late-round pick, it’s going to take time. The Packers are set at cornerback, anyway, with Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Eric Stokes and Keisean Nixon atop the depth chart. But with good size (5-foot-11 5/8) and with above-average athletic ability (4.44 in the 40, 39-inch vertical), Valentine projects to an instant-impact player on special teams with starter potential.

“Does he walk in and start? No,” White continued. “He needs to continue to hone his technique. As much as he likes press, he needs to be more consistent in his technique at the line. He has the traits and he has the competitiveness to be a guy that can make it in that league.

“Early, obviously, it’ll have to be on special teams. He’s made tackles and he shows he can tackle, but that’s another part of his game that he needs to continue to push and develop.”

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