Flowers blossoming as BC deep threat
Going for third 100-yard game of year vs. Va. Tech
Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers learned specifics of playing the position from a personal tutor whose style he tries to emulate.
Flowers returned home to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., when the global COVID-19 pandemic forced BC to close its campus back in March.
Prior to being recalled to Chestnut Hill to begin offseason workouts, Flowers enjoyed a private coaching clinic with former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown and former New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith.
BC offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti made the arrangements and the practice session took place on a nearby golf course, a logical alternative since football facilities were in lockdown.
“The last two years I’ve watched him (Brown) a lot and I got to work out with
him when I was home,” Flowers said following practice on Tuesday.
“I’ve seen everything
with him in person and he was just teaching me stuff about running routes and stuff and being able to catch the deep ball.
“He told me about holding my line on a deep ball and letting it come over my outside shoulder and making every release look the same. So, it was just me, Geno and AB working out on a golf course.”
Flowers has taken Brown’s counsel on the deep ball and incorporated it into his game. In last Saturday’s 31-30 overtime victory over Pittsburgh at Alumni Stadium, Flowers caught six passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring receptions of 77 and 44 yards. Flowers had a 61yard touchdown catch in the season opener at Duke.
Flowers became the first receiver in program history to be named ACC Player of the Week twice in one season. He will look to eclipse the century mark in receiving yards for the third time this season when BC (3-1, 2-1) takes on No. 23 Virginia Tech (2-1) on Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va.
“I was blessed to be able to do that two times,” said Flowers. “I just want to keep it going and let the other receivers know that I’m here, that BC has receivers and don’t just run the ball.”
Flowers has emerged as a serious contender for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s top pass catcher. The award is named after NFL Hall of Fame receiver Fred Biletnikoff of the Oakland Raiders, who played collegiately at Florida State.
“I want to try and win the Biletnikoff, I want to be up there as one of the best receivers in the country,” said Flowers.
Flowers leads the ACC in receiving yards (405) and yards per game (101.2) and is third in yards per catch (19.3). He has the triggerman under center who can help him realize his desire for national acclaim.
BC quarterback Phil Jurkovec was named ACC Quarterback of the Week for completing 19 of 35 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns against the Panthers.
Jurkovec is the first quarterback in program history to pass for over 300 yards in three of his first four games. He moved past Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, the morning line favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, for the top spot in the ACC with 295.2 yards per game.
Lawrence is second with 285 yards per game, followed by Pitt’s Kenny Pickett (277.8). BC tight end Hunter Long leads the ACC with 31 receptions and is second with 90.8 yards per game.
BC’s offense has undergone a total transformation under Cignetti and first-year head coach Jeff Hafley. Under former coach Steve Addazio, BC ran a 12-personnel doubletight end power-run scheme for All-ACC firstteam tailback AJ Dillon, the league’s leading rusher and second-round pick of the Green Bay Packers.
Flowers was down in the passing progression order with 22 catches for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Flowers’ ability to run the jet sweep was an important piece of the BC ground game and he netted 215 yards on 26 rushes for a team-high 7.6 yards per carry.
“I knew I could run routes but I wasn’t able to show them last year, I wasn’t able to show them because it was mostly run,” said Flowers. “This year they are giving me a chance to run through every route in my one on one.”