Quoting Coach Rock: 'A special athlete with big-play capabilities ... should have a breakout season this fall.'
2008: Began Purdue career with start of spring semester ... received team[apos]s Newcomer Award - Offense for spring season ... appeared in all 12 games as reserve ... had 11 receptions for 224 yards (20.4 average) and two touchdowns ... led team with 16 kickoff returns for 411 yards (25.7 average) ... kickoff return average ranked fourth in Big Ten and is seventh on school season list ... ranked fourth on squad with 635 all-purpose yards ... caught 57-yard pass on third-and-10 play vs. Central Michigan on Sept. 20 ... had 3-yard touchdown reception at Notre Dame on Sept. 27 ... recorded season-high three receptions for 20 yards at Northwestern on Oct. 18 ... average of 30.0 yards on four kickoff returns (58, 26, 13 and 23 yards) vs. Minnesota on Oct. 25 ranks fifth in school history ... had season-long 64-yard kickoff return at Iowa on Nov. 15 ... equaled season high of three receptions for season-high 99 yards, including season-long 79-yard touchdown catch, vs. Indiana on Nov. 22 ... received team[apos]s Pop Doan Award - Special Teams (top performance against Indiana) after coming up with 51-yard kickoff return in that game.
Erie Community College: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com ... NJCAA honorable mention All-American in 2007 ... Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year ... broke all of school[apos]s season receiving records with 37 receptions for 612 yards (16.5 average) and 10 touchdowns in 2007 ... had school-record 95-yard kickoff return vs. Milford Academy ... set five career records and eight game records.
High School: Attended Freeport (N.Y.) High School ... received Dragon Award as the best receiver in Nassau County his senior year ... coach was Russ Cellan.
Personal: Given name is Aaron Justin Valentin ... nickname is AJ ... born June 18, 1987 ... sociology major ... enjoys playing basketball.
2008: Began Purdue career with start of spring semester ... received team[apos]s Newcomer Award - Offense for spring season ... appeared in all 12 games as reserve ... had 11 receptions for 224 yards (20.4 average) and two touchdowns ... led team with 16 kickoff returns for 411 yards (25.7 average) ... kickoff return average ranked fourth in Big Ten and is seventh on school season list ... ranked fourth on squad with 635 all-purpose yards ... caught 57-yard pass on third-and-10 play vs. Central Michigan on Sept. 20 ... had 3-yard touchdown reception at Notre Dame on Sept. 27 ... recorded season-high three receptions for 20 yards at Northwestern on Oct. 18 ... average of 30.0 yards on four kickoff returns (58, 26, 13 and 23 yards) vs. Minnesota on Oct. 25 ranks fifth in school history ... had season-long 64-yard kickoff return at Iowa on Nov. 15 ... equaled season high of three receptions for season-high 99 yards, including season-long 79-yard touchdown catch, vs. Indiana on Nov. 22 ... received team[apos]s Pop Doan Award - Special Teams (top performance against Indiana) after coming up with 51-yard kickoff return in that game.
Erie Community College: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com ... NJCAA honorable mention All-American in 2007 ... Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year ... broke all of school[apos]s season receiving records with 37 receptions for 612 yards (16.5 average) and 10 touchdowns in 2007 ... had school-record 95-yard kickoff return vs. Milford Academy ... set five career records and eight game records.
High School: Attended Freeport (N.Y.) High School ... received Dragon Award as the best receiver in Nassau County his senior year ... coach was Russ Cellan.
Personal: Given name is Aaron Justin Valentin ... nickname is AJ ... born June 18, 1987 ... sociology major ... enjoys playing basketball.