Arkansas Razorbacks: 5 Players to Watch
Sep 14, 2013; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles running back Jalen Richard (30) rushes as Arkansas Razorbacks defensive end Trey Flowers (86) defends at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Southern Miss 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
#86 Trey Flowers, 6-foot-4, 267 pounds, Senior, Defensive End
Flowers is easily the best player on an Arkansas defense that struggled last season. As a unit, the Razorbacks finished 12th in the SEC in scoring defense, 11th in both rushing and passing defense and ninth in total defense. They also finished dead last in the league and 111th in the nation with a minus-9 turnover ratio. Ouch.
However, Trey Flowers is a definite bright spot. He is a talented player at defensive end, and could have jumped early to the NFL after receiving a projected third round grade from the League. But, Flowers instead chose to return to Fayetteville to help head coach Bret Bielema in his attempt to rebuild the Arkansas football program.
Think of Trey Flowers as a poor man’s Jadeveon Clowney. He doesn’t have the measurables or the highlights, but the senior will receive similar attention from opponents on a weekly basis. New defensive coordinator Robb Smith will likely attempt to move Flowers around to take advantage of his athleticism and to throw off opponent’s game-planning around him.
As a junior, Flowers recorded 44 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception. Those numbers are certainly in reach in 2014, but more importantly, Flowers’ presence and the attention he receives will free up players like ends Deatrich Wise and JaMichael Winston, as well as interior players Darius Philon and Taiwan Johnson, to make plays along the defensive line.
Another reason to watch out for Flowers? The last time he played in Jordan-Hare Stadium (2012) he had 3.5 sacks.