He was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft after playing college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

[6] Valentine entered training camp competing to be a backup defensive tackle with Markus Kuhn, Woodrow Hamilton, Joe Vellano, and Anthony Johnson.

[7] Valentine made his professional debut in the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, where he recorded his first career sack against quarterback Carson Palmer.

In college, he was a journalism major, and earned a spot on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the spring of 2013.

Valentine also volunteered his time with Uplifting Athletes and part of team hospital visits while with the Huskers.