Imhotep's John Valentin Signs With Oklahoma

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The first thing out of JohnCarlo Valentin's mouth was that he was not done yet. Not by a long shot. There are still things to achieve and obstacles to climb, despite a major one climbed on Wednesday, when the mammoth 6-foot-5, 317-pound senior offensive guard signed with Oklahoma on National Signing Day.

Valentin, an Imhotep Charter anchor on its undefeated PIAA Class AAA state championship team this season, was one of nine Panthers who signed with Division I schools on Wednesday.

"This was a great move and I'm happy I did it. I just liked the people at Oklahoma," Valentin said. "I don't know anyone down there and they don't know me. It's a chance to create a new identity for myself. They see me as possibly a guard, center, or tackle.

"I don't know what I want to major in yet. South Carolina, UCLA and Temple I was looking at, too."

Signing with a major Power Five conference program was also a way to show gratitude to all of those that have helped and supported him through the years.

Valentin finished as an all-state and all-city player, who was part of a history-making team that became the first Philadelphia Public League squad to ever win a state title.

The Panthers also have an argument as the greatest Philadelphia Public League team ever—and possibly the best from the Philadelphia area.

"It was great to do all of those things this year," Valentin said. "But I'm not finished yet. I'm never satisfied. I'll feel relentless until I'm standing there on NFL Draft Day. I have a lot of things still to do. I'm not done yet. I'm excited about it. I'm just not where I want to be yet. I still have places to go."

Imhotep coach Albie Crosby, CBSPhilly's Coach of the Year, couldn't have been more proud. He's very responsible for where the Imhotep program is, as one of the premier programs in the area and recognized as one of the best in the country.

"That's what it's all about—getting the kids into school and opening another pathway for them to succeed," Crosby said. "Imhotep opened in 1999 and they've had sports since 2005. So this is easily the greatest football team in the school's history and I think it's one of the greatest in Philadelphia history.

"This was my first graduating class here. I have three more kids going to Lock Haven. All 15 of our seniors are going on to college. I think that's the biggest reward for me and my staff. It is bittersweet. It will be tough watching them leave, because they've been with me since I started at Imhotep. Our kids received over $3 million worth of scholarship money. That's a great deal for any inner-city kid."