Second-team All-ACC cornerback Brandon Flowers, a redshirt junior, is expected to head to the professional ranks next year, forgoing his final season of eligibility and entering the NFL Draft this spring, said defensive backfield coach Torrian Gray.
"What would I expect Brandon to be doing next year? I think it's his intentions that he's had a good enough year that we hope to be seeing him play on Sundays," Gray said. "I think he's ready physically and mentally."
Gray said that after having a breakout season as a redshirt sophomore, Flowers entered the 2007 season knowing that he might go pro if he had a solid junior campaign.
"He felt that if he was able to do something this year too that he could anticipate (declaring for the NFL draft,)" Gray said.
Gray, who played for the Minnesota Vikings for four years and also helped coach the Chicago Bears secondary for two seasons, has plenty of experience assessing professional talent. Several draft prognosticators also consider Flowers one of the top cornerback prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft in the spring.
However, Flowers is quiet about the move to the NFL.
"I can't answer that question right now," Flowers said, preferring to keep his focus on the postseason appearances ahead of him. But the Delray, Fla. native is confident in his abilities, and is sure that he possesses the talent it takes to be a standout pass defender in the NFL.
"I definitely consider myself an NFL-caliber cornerback," Flowers said. "I think I'm the full package. I can come up from under, I'm good off my breaks, I can play the ball very well in the air. Yeah, I definitely think I'm an NFL prospect."
His stats back him up.
Flowers has intercepted five passes this season, totaling 93 interception return yards and a touchdown and adding seven passes defended. He's ranked third on the defense in stops, recording 72 total tackles, seven of those for a loss of 22 yards.
Last season Flowers finished with three interceptions and led the ACC with 18 passes broken up and 21 passes defended on his way to being named a third-team All-American.
"Brandon has had two great years here, and I feel fortunate to coach a guy of his caliber," Gray said. "He has a physical game, it's great and he can also cover. I think he's the complete package."