LSU DT booted for academics

Redshit freshman defensive tackle Travonte Valentine has left LSU after failing academically, reports have said.

According to reports, Valentine sacrificed spring practice to focus on academics after redshirting his first year. He still didn’t manage it, and now he’s transferred to Arizona Community College.

He was suspended in April for not getting his grades straight. At the time, Miles told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “We’ve instructed him to go to this school, go to class, take care your business. If he does that and handles behavior then there will be a future for him here. Otherwise, we’re not certain.”

Now, we might be being cynical here, but this smells awfully like LSU booted Valentine because he couldn’t keep the GPA that LSU would want. Why else would a 6-3, 325lb player, formerly a blue-chip recruit (ranked by 24-7Sports.com as the third-best defensive tackle in Florida and the ninth-best player in the state) leave a school that has such opportunity for him to start?