Trey Flowers Drafted By New England Patriots In 4th Round

Leave it to New England to pick up Trey Flowers immediately in the 4th round after many expected him to be picked on Friday.

Bill Belichick just out here grabbing very good football players…

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) May 2, 2015

The Trey Flowers pick gets two thumbs up from me

— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) May 2, 2015

Flowers! Great patriots pick

— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) May 2, 2015

Here’s what we said about Trey Flowers in his draft profile earlier this week.

Not recruited by home state SEC schools Alabama or Auburn, Trey Flowers' only offers were from Arkansas, Georgia Tech, and UAB. He used that as motivation to turn himself into an elite SEC defensive end and the unquestioned leader of Arkansas' defense. He's labeled as a "high motor" guy but he has solid technique and uses his length to beat equally talented offensive lineman.

Career at Arkansas

Freshmen Season 2011: Started 3 games, and recorded 28 tackles, 5.5 for loss with 1.0 sack,voted SEC All-Freshman Team

Sophomore Season 2012: Started all 12 games and recorded 50 tackles, 13.0 for loss with 6.0 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries and three pass breakups.

Junior Season 2013: Started 11 games, had 44 tackles, including 13.5 for loss with 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception, two pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.

Senior Season 2014: Started all 13 games, had 68 tackles, with 13 TFL, 6 sacks and SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after NIU, Second Team ALL-SEC, AP All-SEC honorable mention.  Finished career leading all active SEC players in career tackles for loss with 47.5 and ranked second in school history in TFL, as well as second in the nation among active players for TFL.

He displayed consistent play and practice habits during several coaching changes (3 different head coaches and defensive coordinators in his four years at Arkansas) which is even more prevalent at the NFL level.

He played on both right and left DE spots, and used multiple techniques, 6 tech on a TE, head up on a tackle, twist inside on stunts.

In the off season last year, Bret Bielema said many times that Trey Flowers return was his biggest recruiting win.

Flowers showed improved pass rushing skills every season. He can rush from the edge or on stunts inside.

Flowers was undoubtedly one of the leaders for this Arkansas team on and off the field. He is a somewhat quiet kind of personality but it is apparent that he is a constant team guy who leads by example. At the SEC media days before the 2014 season he talked about why he came back for his senior season. SEC Media Days 2014 Trey Flowers

His standout performance in the 2014 bowl game against Texas shows what kind of player an NFL team is getting. The 5 tackles, 1 sack and multiple quarterback hurries were a key part of the blowout win over the Longhorns.

What separates Flowers from other defensive ends is his run stopping ability. He was a consistent edge-setting end against the run-heavy teams in the SEC like Auburn, Alabama, and LSU. He showed the strength and hand placement to shed blocks when stacked and beat slower offensive linemen. Flowers consistently drew double teams and chips from backs in 2014 and was still able to produce.

At the NFL level Flowers is a guy with the intelligence, work ethic and a chip on his shoulder to be a solid contributor where ever he is lined up.

NFL.com projects him as a 3rd round pick.