{{short description|Canadian football player (born 1999)}} {{Infobox Canadian Football League biography |name=Daniel Valente |image= |image_upright= |caption= |team= |number= |position1=Defensive back |birth_date={{birth date and age|1999|10|23}} |birth_place=London, Ontario, Canada |Height_ft=5 |Height_in=11 |Weight_lbs=176 |CIS=Western (2017–2022) |high_school=Catholic Central (London) |CFLDraftedYear=2022 |CFLDraftedRound=4 |CFLDraftedPick=31 |playing_years1={{CFL Year|2022}}–{{CFL Year|2023}} |playing_team1=Ottawa Redblacks* |playing_years2={{CFL Year|2023}} |playing_team2=Montreal Alouettes* |playing_years3={{CFL Year|2023}} |playing_team3=Toronto Argonauts |status= |import=no |career_highlights= *2× Vanier Cup champion (2017, 2021) *2× First-team All-Canadian (2021–2022) *2× First-team OUA (2021–2022) |CFL=daniel-valente }} '''Daniel Valente Jr.''' (born October 23, 1999) is a Canadian professional football defensive back. He played U Sports football at Western. He has been a member of the Ottawa Redblacks, Montreal Alouettes, and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
==Early life== Daniel Valente Jr. played high school football at Catholic Central High School in London, Ontario.<ref name="argos"/><ref name="west">{{cite web | url=https://westernmustangs.ca/news/2016/9/30/mustangs-football-announces-the-signing-of-daniel-valente-and-jake-andrews.aspx | title=Mustangs Football announces the signing of Daniel Valente and Jake Andrews | publisher=westernmustangs.ca | date=September 30, 2016 | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref> He played junior football for the London Junior Mustangs of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) and was a multi-time OVFL all-star.<ref name="west"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://westerngazette.ca/sports/who-are-the-junior-mustangs/article_88d9c1ec-a1dd-11e6-9335-7fe761f95ffd.html | title=Who are the Junior Mustangs? | publisher=westerngazette.ca | date=November 3, 2016 | accessdate=February 29, 2024 | author=Palmer, Claire}}</ref> Valente also represented Team Canada in the U-19 International Bowl against the United States on January 28, 2017.<ref name="west"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.comc.com/Cards/Football/2017/Upper_Deck_USA_Football_-_Base_-_Red_Border/157/Daniel_Valente/12662036 | title=2017 Upper Deck USA Football - [Base] - Red Border #157 - Daniel Valente | publisher=comc.com | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref>
==University career== Valente played U Sports football at Western from 2017 to 2022.<ref name="argos">{{cite web | url=https://www.argonauts.ca/players/daniel-valente-jr/167003/#:~:text=College%3A%20Attended%20Western%20University%20(2017,OUA%20First%20Team%20All%2DStar. | title=DANIEL VALENTE JR. | publisher=argonauts.ca | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref> Western won the 53rd Vanier Cup in 2017 and the 56th Vanier Cup in 2021. In 2021, Valente earned first team All-Canadian and first team All-Ontario University Athletics (OUA) honors while also being named the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Game of the 56th Vanier Cup.<ref name="argos"/> After spending time with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL), Valente returned to Western for his final season of U Sports football in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://3downnation.com/2023/10/02/toronto-argonauts-sign-five-including-former-redblacks-draft-pick-daniel-valente/ | title=Toronto Argonauts sign five, including former Redblacks’ draft pick Daniel Valente | publisher=3downnation.com | date=October 2, 2023 | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref> In 2022, he again garnered first team All-Canadian and first team All-OUA recognition while also being named the OUA's Outstanding Stand-Up Defensive Player of the Year.<ref name="argos"/>
==Professional career== Valente was selected by the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in the fourth round, with the 31st overall pick, of the 2022 CFL draft.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://westerngazette.ca/sports/football/path-to-the-pros-daniel-valente-jr-heads-to-the-nation-s-capital/article_3d6b32b2-98d6-11ed-9041-3f95840c286f.html | title=Path to the pros: Daniel Valente Jr. heads to the nation’s capital | publisher=westerngazette.ca | date=January 20, 2023 | accessdate=February 29, 2024 | author=Goodison, Ryan}}</ref> He signed with the team on May 9, 2022.<ref name="ott"/> He was moved to the practice roster on June 5, released from the practice roster on July 7, re-signed to the practice roster on July 12, and released from the practice roster on July 19, 2022, returning to Western for his final season of U Sports football.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2023/05/15/second-training-camp-bringing-the-best-out-of-rookie-redblacks/ | title=SECOND TRAINING CAMP BRINGING THE BEST OUT OF ROOKIE REDBLACKS | publisher=ottawaredblacks.com | date=May 15, 2023 | accessdate=February 29, 2024 | author=Benvenuti, Frankie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://lfpress.com/sports/local-sports/cfl-tested-stalwart-eyes-vanier-cup-repeat-with-western-mustangs | title=CFL-tested stalwart eyes Vanier Cup repeat with Western Mustangs | publisher=lfpress.com | date=August 26, 2022 | accessdate=February 29, 2024 | author=Pyette, Ryan}}</ref> Valente re-signed with the Redblacks on December 7, 2022.<ref name="ott">{{cite web | url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/cfl/ottawa-redblacks/transactions/2022 | title=Ottawa RedBlacks Transactions | publisher=footballdb.com | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref> He was released on June 9, 2023, and signed to the practice roster on June 26 before being released on August 15, 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/cfl/ottawa-redblacks/transactions | title=Ottawa RedBlacks Transactions | publisher=footballdb.com | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref>
Valente was signed to the practice roster of the Montreal Alouettes on August 29, 2023, and released by the team on September 28, 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/cfl/montreal-alouettes/transactions | title=footballdb.com | publisher=footballdb.com | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thespec.com/sports/football/alouettes-sign-dl-desjardins-db-valente-release-canadian-wr-mayala/article_ce5e1d83-f5dc-50b8-8aa9-637c9b95498c.html | title=Alouettes sign DL Desjardins, DB Valente; release Canadian WR Mayala | publisher=thespec.com | date=August 29, 2023 | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref>
Valente was signed to the Toronto Argonauts' practice roster on October 2, 2023.<ref name="arg">{{cite web | url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/cfl/toronto-argonauts/transactions | title=Toronto Argonauts Transactions | publisher=footballdb.com | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on October 27 and dressed in one game for the Argonauts but did not record any statistics.<ref name="arg"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.footballdb.com/players/daniel-valente-valenda01 | title=Daniel Valente | publisher=footballdb.com | accessdate=February 29, 2024}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on November 10, 2023.<ref name="arg"/> Valente re-signed with the team for the 2024 season, but was released at the start of training camp on May 15, 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/chad-kelly-suspended-list-argonauts-cfl-1.7205002 | title=Argonauts revise statement, say Chad Kelly not on suspended list but away from team | publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | date=May 15, 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valente, Daniel}} Category:Living people Category:1999 births Category:Ottawa Redblacks players Category:Montreal Alouettes players Category:Toronto Argonauts players Category:Western Mustangs football players Category:Canadian football defensive backs Category:Players of Canadian football from Ontario Category:Sportspeople from London, Ontario