Lightning-quick wide receiver Zay Flowers, a graduate of Davie’s University School, was selected with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night.
Flowers, who played college ball at Boston College, becomes the second undersized-but-bullet-fast receiver from Broward County picked by the Ravens in the first round in the past five drafts, joining Chaminade-Madonna’s Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown picked 25th in 2019.
Flowers joins the Ravens, who earlier in the day signed star quarterback Lamar Jackson to a long-term extension. Jackson, who went to Boynton Beach High School, played youth football in Broward.
At 5 feet 9, Flowers tacked on the muscle in workouts leading up to the combine to complement his 4.42 speed.
As a three-star recruit out of U-School, Flowers stood out in four years in the northeast.
He set career marks with 78 receptions, 1,077 receiving yards last season and had 12 receiving touchdowns in 12 starts. He was also first-team All-ACC as a sophomore in 2020.
Other players with South Florida connections the Ravens have selected in the first round of the draft: Defensive back Matt Elam (Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer High School, 32nd pick, 2013), safety Ed Reed (University of Miami, 24th pick, 2002), cornerback Duane Starks (University of Miami, 10th pick, 1998) and linebacker Ray Lewis (University of Miami, 26th pick, 1996).
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