National Signing Day 2018: Top 10 diamonds in the rough
Though a few high profile offensive linemen have emerged in recent years, New York also has a poor overall recruiting reputation. The state has a huge population and is also one of the biggest in the northeast from a land area perspective, but high school football isn’t nearly as important or prevalent there as it is in the South. As a result, New York prospects can be overlooked on a national level.
Still, there are talented New Yorkers available for college football programs that search hard enough for them. Boston College found a good one in Matt Valecce. A 6-foot-5, 205-pound pro-style quarterback from the Bronx, Valecce has an NFL frame, and a very strong arm to match, though he is only a three-star prospect ranked No. 44 at his position in the 247 Sports Composite, the No. 14 recruit from New York and No. 1,258 overall. However, he has been a fast riser on the 247Sports rankings, moving up to No. 927 overall, and 33rd among pro-style signal callers in the site’s final list.
Valecce signed with Boston College during the early signing period. The Eagles were arguably the most prestigious football program to offer the youngster (Rutgers, Syracuse, UConn, Buffalo and UMass were the only five FBS programs listed on his profile), but BC wasn’t the most prestigious university to show interest. For some insight into Valecce’s intelligence level, it’s worth noting he was recruited by six of the eight Ivy League football programs: Harvard, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Dartmouth and Brown.
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Boston College had great success with freshman Anthony Brown under center in 2017, so it may be difficult for Valecce to earn playing time early in Chestnut Hill. But file his name away.