Letter of intent No. 22: Marquez Valdes
Wide receiver
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St. Petersburg (Fla.) Lakewood High
6-foot-3, 185 pounds
Measurables: Was clocked under 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Florida State summer camp … Reportedly has a 235-pound bench press.
Stats: Made 24 receptions for 444 yards and six scores as a senior … Caught 28 passes for over 600 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.
Ratings: Listed as a three-star player by Rivals.com … Named a three-star prospect, the No. 180 wide receiver in the country and No. 213 recruit from Florida by ESPN … Also rated three stars by 24/7 Sports, the No. 207 receiver nationally and No. 209 player in the state … Given two stars by Scout.com.
Honors/accomplishments: Named MVP of the Pinellas Senior All-Star Game in December after making three catches for 98 yards and a touchdown in the contest.
Recruitment: Valdes actually briefly committed to Louisville in the fall, but that did not last long. He took official visits to Houston and Toledo in December, but then coaching changes helped his recruitment take off. New staffs at NC State, Cincinnati, Kentucky and South Florida all offered. Minnesota also jumped in with an offer of their own. The Pack though got Valdes on campus for an official visit Jan. 11 and held a lead that lasted till signing day despite trips to Cincinnati and USF in between. Valdes announced for the Pack Feb. 6.
Recruiter of record: Wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson.
2013 projection: Given NC State's need for a receiver or two to step up this fall and that Valdes is one of the more polished wide outs in the class, it would not be a surprise if Valdes found some early playing time at NC State.