2008 (Senior): Last year’s starter at left tackle, he was moved to right tackle in the spring and is expected to help anchor that position this year. He will battle Michael Aguirre for the starting role. Last year, Valdez helped Arkansas’ line pave the way for an SEC-leading and school-record 3,725 rushing yards, and an average of 286.5 yards per game, which was fourth in the nation. Arkansas also generated a school-record 5,850 yards of total offense and scored a school-record 485 points. The point total ranked No. 13 in the nation with 37.3 per game and the total offense average of 450.0 ranked No. 17.
2007 (Junior): He went into the season expected to start at left tackle and that’s what he did the first 10 games of the season. He missed the Mississippi State and LSU games with an ankle injury, and came off the bench to play against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. He cleared the way for two All-American running backs – Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden, who led the SEC and ranked fourth in the nation in rushing (140.8), and Felix Jones, who ranked fifth in the SEC and No. 43 in the country (89.4). His overall grade for the year was 86.1, which ranked third among the regulars. He also had a season score of 94.0 on passing plays and 81.0 on running plays, and had 25 knockdown blocks. – Valdez made his first career start at left tackle against Troy. He blocked the way for McFadden and Jones to record 100-yard performances and Casey Dick to throw for more than 100 yards. Against Alabama, he played 78 snaps at left tackle with a 96 percent pass block grade. Arkansas racked up 450 yards of total offense, including 301 yards rushing. McFadden recorded the 14th 100-yard rushing game of his career (195) and Jones ran for 96 yards. He also tallied four knockdown blocks. The offensive line protected Dick and did not give up a sack. In the Kentucky game, he played 78 snaps, logging block grades of 93 percent passing and a total of 84 percent. He also tallied one knockdown block. He blocked the way for McFadden and Jones to record 100-yard rushing performances. At left tackle against North Texas, he blocked the way for the Razorbacks to gain over 700 yards of offense. He played 59 snaps against the Mean Green with a 95 percent pass block grade and one knockdown block. In the Chattanooga game, Valdez played 68 snaps with an 88 percent run block grade and an 83 percent total block grade. The offensive line blocked for McFadden and Jones to record 100-yard rushing games. He played 54 snaps against Auburn with an 83 percent total block grade and a 90 percent pass block grade. He also tallied four knockdown blocks. Against Ole Miss, the offensive line blocked for four passing touchdowns, 12-of-18 and 144 yards for the quarterbacks and for McFadden and Jones to eclipse the 100-yard mark. Valdez recorded grades of 88 percent blocking the run, 100 percent blocking the pass and 91 percent overall. He also had two knockdown blocks. At left tackle against FIU, Valdez had three knockdown blocks, graded out at 88 percent for the run, 100 percent for the pass and 93 percent total. In the South Carolina game, he recorded five knockdown blocks while earning an 89 percent run block grade, a 100 percent pass block grade and a total grade of 92 percent. He blocked the way for Arkansas’ 650 yards of offense, including 542 yards on the ground, and four rushing TDs. Valdez graded out at 83 percent for a total block grade while recording one knockdown block against Tennessee. He did not play against Mississippi State or LSU because of an ankle injury, but was able to get back on the field in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri. He earned one knockdown block against the Tigers.
2006 (Sophomore): As a sophomore, Valdez played in all 14 games contributing on special teams and earning extended reserve opportunities at offensive tackle. He was the starting left tackle on the PAT/field goal team. He averaged around 11 snaps per game at tackle in the Hogs’ traditional offensive set. He tallied seven knockdowns on the season. – Valdez played on special teams and earned six snaps at tackle against No. 6 USC. He played 20 snaps against Utah State garnering an overall blocking grade of 90 percent, including 84 percent on run blocking and a perfect 100 percent on pass blocking. He tallied one knockdown block against the Aggies. He saw strictly special teams work against Vanderbilt, Alabama and Auburn. Valdez played extensively at offensive tackle in the Razorbacks’ win over Southeast Missouri State. He logged 37 snaps and graded out at 91 percent. He scored at 92 percent on rushing plays and 90 percent on passing plays. He added one knockdown to his season total against the Redhawks. He was effective in his eight snaps against Ole Miss. He earned an 87-percent grade, including an 80-percent clip in rush blocking and his second 100-percent pass blocking grade of the season. Valdez racked up a season-high three knockdown blocks on 17 snaps in Arkansas’ non-conference victory over Louisiana-Monroe in Little Rock. He carded a 90-percent grade on rushing plays and an 85-percent mark on passing plays. His total grade of 88-percent marked the third-consecutive game of more than 87 percent. He tallied his seventh knockdown block against Mississippi State and his eighth against No. 9 LSU.
2005 (Freshman): He played in the season opener against Missouri State, but did not return to the field for the remainder of the season. He earned an 88-percent grade on nine snaps against the Bears. He also tallied one knockdown block in his limited playing time.
Personal: Born Dec. 13, 1986, he is the son of Daniel and Marina Valdez. He is enrolled in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and is majoring in sociology and criminal justice. He was named a Hard Working Hog for the 2005-06 academic year.
High School: He earned all-state honors on both offense and defense as a senior for Coach Doug Sarver. He helped lead his prep squad to a 12-2 record and a state runner-up finish. He played offensive tackle and defensive end in high school. He was part of a team that finished 8-3 in his junior season. He was ranked as the No. 6 player in Wisconsin and the No. 57 offensive tackle in the country by Rivals.com. He also played basketball in high school where he was a three-year starter at center. He had a max bench press of 350 pounds and a 475-pound max in the squat lift. He was also recruited by Wisconsin, Michigan, Northern Illinois, Ball State, Indiana and Central Michigan.
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