Valdez was a passing quarterback when being a passing quarterback wasn’t cool like it is today. As a sophomore in 1966, he had a record-setting season that saw him pass for 1,854 yards and 33 touchdowns and lead the Cardinals to a conference championship and a win in the Junior Rose Bowl. The Cardinals were named JC-Grid Wire national champions.

In the 21^st annual Junior Rose Bowl – a 40-13 win against Pasadena -- in front of a crowd of 40,045, Valdez completed 20-of-28 passes for 334 yards and six touchdowns. He broke five Junior Rose Bowl records for completions (28), yards (334), total yards (411) and longest touchdown pass (75).

He was named to the NJCAA-All America team.

As a freshman, Valdez played defensive back, helping the Cardinals to a conference championship and earning All-America honors.

In his two seasons, the Cardinals were 20-2, won two conference titles and made two Junior Rose Bowl appearances.

He went on to play one season at SMU, rushing 23 times in one game, and Southern Colorado.

Valdez is the fourth member of the 1965 Cardinals to be inducted into the Cardinal Hall of Fame, joining Coach Bob Baccarini (2008), Margene Adkins (2008) and Linzy Cole (2010).