| Daniel Valente | |
| Position1: | Defensive back |
| Birth Date: | 23 October 1999 |
| Birth Place: | London, Ontario, Canada |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 11 |
| Weight Lbs: | 176 |
| Cis: | Western |
| High School: | Catholic Central (London, ON) |
| Cfldraftedyear: | 2022 |
| Cfldraftedround: | 4 |
| Cfldraftedpick: | 31 |
| Cfldraftedteam: | Ottawa Redblacks |
| Playing Years1: | – |
| Playing Team1: | Ottawa Redblacks |
| Playing Team2: | Montreal Alouettes |
| Playing Team3: | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career Footnotes: | |
| Status: | Active |
| Import: | no |
| Career Highlights: |
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| Cfl: | daniel-valente |
Daniel Valente Jr. (born October 23, 1999) is a Canadian professional football defensive back who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played U Sports football at Western. He has also been a member of the Ottawa Redblacks and Montreal Alouettes.
Daniel Valente Jr. played high school football at Catholic Central High School in London, Ontario.[1] He played junior football for the London Junior Mustangs of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) and was a multi-time OVFL all-star.[1] [2] Valente also represented Team Canada in the U-19 International Bowl against the United States on January 28, 2017.[1] [3]
Valente played U Sports football at Western from 2017 to 2022.[4] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[4]
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.[6] He signed with the team on May 9, 2022. 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.[7] [8] Valente re-signed with the Redblacks on December 7, 2022.[9] He was released on June 9, 2023, and signed to the practice roster on June 26 before being released on August 15, 2023.[10]
Valente was signed to the practice roster of the Montreal Alouettes on August 29, 2023, and released by the team on September 28, 2023.[11] [12]
Valente was signed to the Toronto Argonauts' practice roster on October 2, 2023.[13] He was promoted to the active roster on October 27 and dressed in one game for the Argonauts but did not record any statistics.[13] [14] He was placed on injured reserve on November 10, 2023.[13] Valente re-signed with the team for the 2024 season, but was released at the start of training camp on May 15, 2024.[15]