Flowers expected to go high in NFL Draft

Published April 25th, 2008

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

Brandon Flowers left Virginia Tech after his junior year because he felt he was NFL-ready, and he could be rewarded with a high pick in this Saturday’s NFL Draft, which starts at 3 p.m.

Flowers, a 5-foot-9, 189-pound cornerback who attended Atlantic High, has been projected as high as the early second round by several mock drafts, and NFLDraftScout.com lists him as the fifth best cornerback in this year’s draft

His agent, Andy Ross of Octagon, said he feels Flowers can go even higher than he has been projected.

“I think he goes first round,” he said. “Tampa, Dallas, San Diego, Green Bay have professed interest in him.” Ross said he’s been in contact with as many as 15 NFL teams in recent weeks about Flowers.

Rob Rang, senior analyst at NFLDraftScout.com, wrote this of Flowers:

“Flowers is one of the more instinctive, physical cornerbacks of the 2008 draft. Entering the Combine he was widely considered among the elite prospects at the position, but a disappointing workout in Indianapolis dropped his stock considerably. Flowers has been only marginally better in workouts since.

“Flowers’ combination of instincts and physicality makes him an intriguing fit in a Two Deep alignment. He recognizes the action quickly and closes as aggressively as any cornerback in this draft. His lack of speed makes him vulnerable to the deep ball, but if protected over the top, Flowers is among the elite all-around cornerbacks of a strong and deep 2008 class.”

Besides his poor showing at the Combine, there have been questions about Flowers’ character, with reports circulating throughout the league about questionable off-field activities.

Flowers could not be reached for comment, but Ross said, “Anybody who gets a chance to meet Brandon, they see what kind of person he is. He’s got a good work ethic. They get the chance to meet his mother and father and remark on what a tight-knit family he has. The questions about his character is more of a media thing.”

Flowers intercepted five passes and led all cornerbacks in the nation with eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage last year, and was one of the reasons why Virginia Tech’s defense ranked fourth in the nation and third in scoring defense.

Flowers will watch the draft at his home in Delray Beach with his family Saturday.
Ross said whichever team drafts him will get “a perennial Pro Bowler. He’s going to be a Ronde Barber, but better. He’s got speed, the ability to play man-press as well as Cover 2.”

Other prospects

While Flowers most certainly will be drafted on the first day, other local players aren’t as sure. Cerge Sincere was one of the leaders of the FAU defense last year. Sincere ranked second on the team with 117 tackles and had two sacks, and he was one of the leaders for an Owls team that won the Sun Belt and the first bowl game in school history.

Still, his lack of size (Sincere is a 6-foot, 215-pound linebacker) figures to hurt him on draft day.

“It’s been stressful, at the same time I feel like I’m blessed to be a part of this year’s draft,” Sincere said.
“It’s a dream come true, long time coming and hopefully I get picked up by somebody.”

Sincere said one of the team’s that has expressed interest in him is the New England Patriots, fresh off an 18-1, AFC Championship season.

“The Patriots are a great team, whatever has the most interest in me is wherever I want to be,” he said.
NFLDraftScout.com projects Sincere as a free agent, and he is ranked 94th out of 232 outside linebackers.

Sincere plans to watch the two-day draft at his house with his parents, and he is just looking for that chance.

“It’s definitely going to be nerve-wracking,” he said.
Sincere works out with fellow senior Taheem Acevedo, who is also not projected to be drafted. Acevedo made four interceptions for the Owls last season.

Another area player, Kansas State defensive tackle Alphonso Moran, is also not projected to be picked.

Moran, a two-time all-state player at Boca Raton High, reportedly quit playing for the Wildcats during his final season.