Quinton Flowers

{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}}

{{Use American English|date = January 2020}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Quinton Flowers

| image =Quinton Flowers at the 2015 Miami Beach Bowl.jpg

| caption =Flowers in 2015

| position = Quarterback

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|12|2}}

| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lbs = 215

| high_school = Miami Jackson (Miami, Florida)

| college = South Florida (2014–2017)

| undraftedyear = 2018

| pastteams =

| highlights =

| pfr = FlowQu00

}}

Quinton Lenard Flowers (born December 2, 1994) is an American professional football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football for the South Florida Bulls.

Early years

Flowers attended Miami Jackson High School in Miami, Florida. During his career, he passed 6,042 yards and had 2,002 yards rushing with 32 touchdowns. He committed to the University of South Florida (USF) to play college football.{{cite web|url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/hssports/2013/10/miami-jackson-quarterback-quinton-flowers-commits-to-usf-for-a-second-time.html|work=Miami Herald|title=Miami Jackson quarterback Quinton Flowers commits to USF for a second time|author=Deen, Safid|access-date=December 4, 2016}}

College career

=2014 season=

As a true freshman at South Florida, Flowers played in five games and made one start. He finished the season with 111 passing yards and two interceptions and also had 73 yards rushing.

=2015 season=

Flowers was named the starting quarterback in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bulls/quinton-flowers-named-bulls-starting-qb/2242633|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826211955/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bulls/quinton-flowers-named-bulls-starting-qb/2242633|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2015|work=Tampa Bay Times|title=Quinton Flowers named Bulls' starting QB|date=August 24, 2015|access-date=December 4, 2016|author=Knight, Joey}} He started all 13 games, completing 162 of 275 passes for 2,290 yards with a school record 22 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 991 yards and 12 touchdowns.{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/mark-it-down-quinton-flowers-greatest-usf-player-in-history/2299218/|author=Knight, Joey|title=Mark it down: Quinton Flowers, greatest USF player in history|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=December 4, 2016}}

=2016 season=

Flowers returned as the starter in 2016.{{cite web|author=Easterling, Luke|url=http://draftwire.usatoday.com/2016/11/14/usfs-quinton-flowers-is-the-best-college-football-player-you-dont-know-about/|publisher=draftwire.usatoday.com|title=USF's Quinton Flowers is the best college football player you don't know about |work=The Draft Wire |date=November 14, 2016 |access-date=December 4, 2016}} After rushing for a school record, 1,530 yards and 18 touchdowns, Flowers was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Conference.{{cite web |title=American Athletic Conference Announces 2016 Football Honors |url=https://theamerican.org/news/2016/11/29/FB_1129160456.aspx |website=American Athletic Conference |access-date=9 April 2023}} Flowers also threw for 2,812 yards and 24 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/american-opoy.html|title=AAC Offensive Player of the Year Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com|website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com}} He ranked second nationally in ESPN's Total QBR statistic in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/ncf/qbr/_/year/2016|title=Total Quarterback Rating - College Football - ESPN|website=ESPN.com}}

=2017 season=

During his senior season in 2017, Flowers rushed for his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, becoming the first quarterback to do so in school history. He also passed for 2,911 yards and a career-high 27 touchdowns with six interceptions. He was also named first-team All-Conference for the second year in a row.{{cite web |last1=Lassan |first1=Steven |title=American Athletic 2017 All-Conference Team |url=https://athlonsports.com/college-football/american-athletic-2017-all-conference-team |website=Athlon Sports |access-date=9 April 2023}} Following the season, Flowers declared for the 2018 NFL draft.

=USF Athletic Hall of Fame=

In 2022, Flowers was inducted into the University of South Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. In school history, he ranks first in passing touchdowns (71), first in quarterback rating (146.5), first 1st in rushing attempts (598), first in rushing yards (3,672), first in rushing touchdowns (41), third in passing yards (8,124), third in interceptions (23), fourth in completions (565), and fourth in passing attempts (980).{{cite web |title=South Florida Bulls Passing Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-florida/passing.html |website=College Football at Sports-Reference |access-date=9 April 2023}} He also ranks ninth all-time in rushing yards for FBS quarterbacks. In his Hall of Fame speech, Flowers talked about his life growing up and the struggles with suicide and losing his family members.{{cite web |title=HALL OF FAME CLASS of 2022: Quinton Flowers, Football |url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2022/11/11/hall-of-fame-class-of-2022-quinton-flowers-football.aspx |website=Go Us Bulls |publisher=USF Bulls |access-date=9 April 2023}}

=College statistics=

class="wikitable"
colspan="2"| Legend
style="background:#EDD1ED; width:3em;"|

| Led the NCAA (for quarterbacks)

style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|

| Led the AAC (for quarterbacks)

style="width:3em;"| Bold

| Career high

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Season

! rowspan="2"| GP

! colspan="8"| Passing

! colspan="4"| Rushing

CmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
colspan="14" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|South Florida Bulls}}"| South Florida Bulls
2014

| 5 || 8 || 20 || 40.0 || 111 || 5.6 || 0 || 2 || 66.6 || 13 || 73 || 5.6 || 0

2015

| 13 || 162 || 275 || 58.9 || 2,290 || 8.3 || 22 || 8 || 149.4 || 191 || 991 || 5.2 || 12

2016

| 13 || 207 || 331 || 62.5 || 2,812 || style="background:#cfecec;| 8.5 || 24 || 7 || style="background:#cfecec;| 153.6 || style="background:#cfecec;| 198 || style="background:#cfecec;| 1,530 || style="background:#EDD1ED;| 7.7 || style="background:#cfecec;| 18

2017

| 12 || 188 || 354 || 53.1 || 2,911 || 8.2 || 25 || 6 || 142.1 || 196 || 1,078 || 5.5 || 11

Career4356598057.78,1248.37123146.55983,6726.141

=Accomplishments=

==Awards==

class="wikitable"
+NCAA Awards and Honors
AwardRef.
2016 CFPA National Performer of the Year
2016 AAC Offensive Player of the Year
2016 Birmingham Bowl MVP
2017 Birmingham Bowl MVP
2016 First-team All-AAC
2017 Second-team All-AAC
2016 Week 2 Offensive Player of the Week
2016 Week 10 Offensive Player of the Week
2017 Week 10 Offensive Player of the Week
2016 CFPA National Performer of Week 9
2016 CFPA National Performer of Week 11
2017 CFPA National Performer of Week 10 Honorable Mention
2017 CFPA National Performer of Week 13 Honorable Mention

==Statistics==

Note: These rankings are of NCAA, AAC, and USF records that are inside of the top ten.

class="wikitable"
+AAC statistical rankings
StatisticRankValue
Passing touchdowns9th71
Interceptions3rd23
Passer rating (min. 200 attempts)8th146.5
Rushing attempts5th598
Rushing yards4th3,672
Rushing touchdowns2nd41
Yards per rushing attempt (min. 100 attempts)7th6.1
Rushing attempts (for quarterbacks)1st598
Rushing yards (for quarterbacks)1st3,672
Rushing touchdowns (for quarterbacks)1st41
Yards per rushing attempt (for quarterbacks, min. 100 attempts)1st6.1

class="wikitable"
+USF statistical rankings{{cite web |title=South Florida Bulls Passing |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-florida/passing.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=10 April 2023}}{{cite web |title=South Florida Bulls Rushing |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-florida/rushing.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=10 April 2023}}
StatisticRankValue
Passing attempts4th980
Completions4th565
Completion percentage (min. 200 attempts)4th57.7
Passing yards3rd8,124
Passing touchdowns1st71
Interceptions3rd23
Passer rating (min. 200 attempts)1st146.5
Rushing attempts1st598
Rushing yards1st3,672
Rushing touchdowns1st41
Yards per rushing attempt (min. 100 attempts)5th6.1
Rushing attempts (for quarterbacks)1st598
Rushing yards (for quarterbacks)1st3,672
Rushing touchdowns (for quarterbacks)1st41
Yards per rushing attempt (for quarterbacks, min. 100 attempts)1st6.1

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 10 3/8

| weight = 214

| dash = 4.63

| ten split = 1.56

| twenty split = 2.70

| shuttle = 4.35

| cone drill = 6.81

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 4

| arm span = 30 7/8

| hand span = 9 3/4

| wonderlic =

| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/quinton-flowers/3200464c-4f47-1270-1874-de35cf5dd333 |title=Quinton Flowers Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 20, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=131526&DraftYear=2018 |title=2018 NFL Draft Scout Quinton Flowers College Football Profile |access-date=April 16, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

=Cincinnati Bengals=

Flowers was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 2018 as a running back.{{cite web|title=Bengals 2018 undrafted free agent class includes a few impressive signings|url=https://www.cincyjungle.com/2018/5/11/17314904/bengals-2018-undrafted-free-agent-class-includes-few-impressive-signings-flowers-boyd-worley|website=CincyJungle.com|date=May 11, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/usf-bulls/2018/04/28/quinton-flowers-lands-free-agent-deal-with-bengals/|title=Quinton Flowers lands free-agent deal with Bengals|last=Knight|first=Joey|date=April 28, 2018|work=Tampa Bay Times}} He was waived on September 1, 2018 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Bengals Establish Roster of 53 Players|url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-establish-roster-of-53-players|website=Bengals.com|date=September 1, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Andrew Brown, Russell Signed to Practice Squad|url=https://www.bengals.com/news/andrew-brown-russell-signed-to-practice-squad|website=Bengals.com|date=September 2, 2018}} He was promoted to the active roster on December 28, 2018.{{cite web|title=Bengals Make Player Moves Before Week 17|url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-make-player-moves-before-week-17|website=Bengals.com|date=December 28, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228200136/https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-make-player-moves-before-week-17|url-status=dead}}

Flowers was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.{{cite news |title=Bengals Announce 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-announce-53-man-roster |website=Bengals.com |date=August 31, 2019 |access-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831213214/https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-announce-53-man-roster |url-status=dead }}

=Indianapolis Colts=

On September 1, 2019, Flowers was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad, but was released six days later.{{cite web|title=Colts Address Quarterback Depth By Signing Veteran Brian Hoyer; Add Four To Practice Squad|url=https://www.colts.com/news/colts-address-quarterback-depth-by-signing-veteran-brian-hoyer-add-four-to-pract|author=Walker, Andrew|website=Colts.com|date=September 2, 2019}}

=Tampa Bay Vipers=

Flowers was selected in the fifth round of phase one of the 2020 XFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Vipers; although he was drafted as a running back, head coach Marc Trestman affirmed his intention to also play Flowers at quarterback.{{cite news|last=Bassinger|first=Thomas|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2019/10/17/xfl-draft-what-we-learned-about-the-tampa-bay-vipers/|title=XFL draft: What we learned about the Tampa Bay Vipers|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|date=October 17, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2019}}

Flowers left the team for personal reasons on February 26, 2020.{{cite news |author=Encina, Eduardo A. |title=Vipers quarterback Quinton Flowers mysteriously leaves team |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/vipers/2020/02/26/vipers-quarterback-quinton-flowers-mysteriously-leaves-team/ |website=TampaBay.com |date=February 26, 2020 |access-date=February 29, 2020}} He returned to the team on March 3, 2020, and requested to be traded.{{cite news |author=Knight, Joey |title=Former USF star Quinton Flowers requests trade from Vipers |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bulls/2020/03/03/former-usf-star-quinton-flowers-requests-trade-from-vipers/ |website=TampaBay.com |date=March 3, 2020 |access-date=March 4, 2020}} He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.{{cite news |author=Condotta, Bob |title=XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/xfl-suspends-operations-terminates-all-employees/ |website=SeattleTimes.com |date=April 10, 2020 |access-date=July 17, 2020}} He finished the season with 106 passing yards, 78 rushing yards, a passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown.

Flowers was selected by the Jousters of The Spring League during its player selection draft on October 12, 2020,{{cite tweet |user=TheSpringLeague |title=The #TSL2020 Jousters QBs! |number=1315679132102144001 |date=October 12, 2020 |access-date=November 3, 2020}} but did not play with the league.{{cite news |author=Nagashima, Matthew |title=The Spring League 2020: Jousters Depth Chart Projection |url=https://xflnewshub.com/the-spring-league/the-spring-league-2020-jousters-depth-chart-projections/ |website=XFLNewsHub.com |date=October 27, 2020 |access-date=November 3, 2020}}

=FCF Beasts=

==2021 season==

Flowers signed to play for the new Fan Controlled Football league for the 2021 season on January 12, 2021.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Quinton Flowers (@SpotTheBall_9) has signed with @fcflio for the 2021 season! |url=https://twitter.com/altfbscout/status/1349038963999322113 |access-date= |website=Alternate Football Scouting Report}}

Flowers appeared in his debut for the Beasts in Week 1 of the 2021 season, throwing for a touchdown on his first play and scrambling for two further touchdowns as the Beasts beat the Zappers, 48–44.{{Cite web|last=Larsen|first=James|date=2021-02-18|title=Quinton Flowers Impresses In His FCF Debut, Leads Beasts To Victory|url=https://xflnewsroom.com/news/quinton-flowers-impresses-in-his-fcf-debut-leads-beasts-to-victory/|access-date=2021-03-14|website=XFL Newsroom|language=en-US}} In Week 2, Flowers was franchise-tagged by the Beasts and played against the Wild Aces, though a majority of snaps were given to T.J. Edwards. Flowers once again threw for a touchdown on the first play of the game and rushed for two more touchdowns as the Beasts went on to win the game, 30–28.{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Josh|title=FCF Week 2 Recap, and New Rules|url=https://xflnewshub.com/fan-controlled-football/fcf-week-2-recap-and-new-rules/|access-date=2021-03-14|language=en-US}}

In Week 3, Flowers led the Beasts to their third straight win against the Glacier Boyz, throwing a touchdown to recently franchise-tagged Troy Evans on the opening drive and rushing for a touchdown on the following drive. The Beasts, then trailing late in the second half with thirty seconds on the clock, were able to tie the game with a passing touchdown from Flowers to Christian Saulsberry, winning soon after with a successful onside conversion.{{Cite web|last=Schuster|first=Blake|title=FCF 2021 Results: Johnny Manziel Sits with Injury; Beasts Now 3-0 After Week 3|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2933781-fcf-2021-results-johnny-manziel-sits-with-injury-beasts-now-3-0-after-week-3|access-date=2021-03-14|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}} In Week 4, the Beasts failed to finish the season undefeated. Flowers threw for one touchdown in the loss.{{Cite web|last=Schuster|first=Blake|title=Josh Gordon Snags FCF Hail Mary as Zappers Beat Beasts Despite Manziel Injury|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2934867-josh-gordon-snags-fcf-hail-mary-as-zappers-beat-beasts-despite-manziel-injury|access-date=2021-03-14|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}} Flowers led the league with 271 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Beasts faced the Glacier Boyz. Flowers finished the game with 26 rushing yards and 44 passing yards. The Beasts would go on to lose, 38–20.

=Orlando Guardians=

On March 6, 2023, Flowers signed with the Orlando Guardians of the XFL in replace of Quinten Dormady who was under league investigation.{{Cite web|last=Nelson|first=Mark|title=Orlando Guardians sign Quinton Flowers as a replacement for Quinten Dormady|url=https://xflboard.com/news/orlando-guardians-sign-quinton-flowers-as-a-replacement-for-quinten-dormady/|access-date=2023-03-06|website=XFL Board|language=en}} He joined a quarterback room containing former Denver Broncos first-round pick Paxton Lynch and another former FCF player in Deondre Francois.

In his first game, Flowers had two attempts to sneak the ball into the endzone from the two-yard line. His second attempt became his first touchdown of the season.{{cite web |title=Vipers Outlast Orlando, 35-32, Earn First Victory |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/vipers-outlast-orlando-35-32-earn-first-victory/n-5935891 |website=Our Sports Central |access-date=10 April 2023}}

Flowers was removed from the roster after the 2023 season.{{Cite web |title=Orlando Guardians Roster |url=https://www.xfl.com/teams/orlando/roster |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=www.xfl.com |language=en}}

Professional career statistics

class="wikitable"
colspan="2"| Legend
style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|

| Led the league

style="width:3em;"| Bold

| Career high

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
+XFL career statistics
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Team

! colspan="3"| Games

! colspan="8"| Passing

! colspan="4"| Rushing

! colspan="2"| Fumbles

GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTDFumLost
2020TB

| 4 || 0 || ― || 8 || 15 || 53.3 || 106 || 7.1 || 0 || 1 || 48.2 || 16 || 78 || 4.9 || 1 || 0 || 0

2023ORL

| 1 || 0 || ― || 0 || 0 || – || 0 || – || 0 || 0 || – || 2 || 2 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0

colspan="2"| Career5081553.31067.10148.218804.4200

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
+FCF career statistics
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Team

! colspan="3"| Games

! colspan="8"| Passing

! colspan="4"| Rushing

! colspan="2"| Fumbles

GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTDFumLost
2021BEA

| 4 || 4 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 3–1 || 14 || 38 || 36.8 || 335 || 8.8 || 6 || 1 || 91.1 || 31 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 271 || 8.7 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 6 || 1 || 1

colspan="2"| Career443–1143836.83358.86191.1312698.7611

Personal life

Flowers' father died in a drive-by shooting when Quinton was seven years old and his mother died of cancer in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/tough-background-keeps-things-in-perspective-for-usf-qb-quinton-flowers/2242751/|title=Tough background keeps things in perspective for USF QB Quinton Flowers|author=Knight|first=Joey|date=August 25, 2015|work=Tampa Bay Times}} Just days prior to his first college career start in 2014, his stepbrother was shot and killed.{{cite web|author=Fortuna, Matt|url=http://www.espn.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/130141/usf-qb-quinton-flowers-has-paved-his-own-path-to-a-3-0-start-a-big-opportunity-against-fsu|title=USF QB Quinton Flowers has paved his own path to a big opportunity against FSU|work=College Football Nation Blog|date=September 21, 2016 |publisher=ESPN|access-date=December 4, 2016}}{{cite web|author=Cobb, Mike|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20141114/usf-freshman-qb-will-start-two-days-after-brother-was-killed|title=USF Freshman QB Will Start Two Days After Brother Was Killed|work=The Ledger|date=November 14, 2014|access-date=August 29, 2017}} Flowers has admitted that he considered taking his own life in 2016, after an aunt died.{{cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bulls/2022/11/11/usf-quinton-flowers-hall-of-fame-induction-speech-contemplated-suicide/|date=2022-11-11|accessdate=2023-02-17|title=Former USF star Quinton Flowers: 'I was thinking about taking my life' in 2016|last=Knight|first=Joey|work=Tampa Bay Times}} He has a wife, and one daughter.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/2017/11/21/quinton-flowers-south-florida-bulls-family|accessdate=2023-02-17|date=2017-11-21|magazine=Sports Illustrated|last=Fuchs|first=Jeremy|title=How Quinton Flowers Pulled Through Personal Tragedy to Lead USF Back Into the Spotlight}}

References

{{Reflist}}