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Junior cornerback Carrington Valentine could play a huge role in what success the Kentucky defense has this season after a sometimes difficult sophomore season.

“You just have to have a short memory playing corner,” said Valentine. “My sophomore year I had to learn to have a short memory. As the year went on, I got more comfortable.  I would not say there was a time when I hit an all-time low but there were times I had mixed feelings in my head. It didn’t take long to get out of that and  once I did I was back.

“Receivers are going to catch balls. As long as you compete and don’t lay down, that is the definition of a hard corner.”

Valentine won’t share his personal goals other than to compete daily.

“I know my personal expectations and I want to make big strides. I want to look like an elite NFL prospect my  junior year. I feel like my sophomore year was solid but this year I feel confident enough that I can have people looking at me and that is by being an elite level talent,” Valentine, who started 12 games and had 61 tackles last year, said.

“I have a lot of goals in my phone. Some are season goals, some are with people we play receiver-wise, I have a mixed variety of goals I want to meet.”

Any particular receiver he is anxious to face this season?

“I am not going to speak on it right now. Come game time you will see,” Valentin said.  “I am looking forward to guarding everybody but there are a select few guys when I look at them I see the (NFL) money.”