Quinton Flowers stands tall (or taller) at USF pro day

TAMPA — Even before he tossed his first flat route Monday morning at USF's pro day, Quinton Flowers' stature among the dozens of pro scouts in attendance already had increased.

By more than an inch.

Both Flowers and his agent, Zac Hiller, said the record-shattering Bulls quarterback measured in Monday at 5-foot, 11 1/2 inches, a full inch and a half taller than he measured less than a month ago at the NFL scouting combine.

Hey, when you're being doubted and dissected the way Flowers is these days, one can't afford to give an inch. The Bulls' all-time total offense leader certainly isn't in his indefatigable quest for NFL validation.

"It's not about the height, it's not about the size, it's about the heart," said Flowers, who joined more than 20 other former Bulls at the Morsani Complex, where they were observed by representatives of 30 NFL teams and two Canadian Football League clubs.

"If you know that you can go out there and do it, if you've got confidence in yourself, go out there and showcase your talent, and that's what I did."

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The most intriguing of the Bulls prospects in this draft, Flowers fielded a few more overtures from NFL teams about his willingness to play other positions (he is), then capped the pro day with some extensive passing work.

Before that, a handful of teammates made significant impressions including cornerback Deatrick Nichols (4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical leap), tailback Darius Tice (27 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press), and defensive end Mike Love (35-inch vertical, 10-1 broad jump).

"I think I gave it all I got, man," said Love, a Countryside High alumnus. "And I'm pretty confident leaving here."

His old quarterback, meantime, said he was at peace.

"I've got a couple of private sessions with a couple of teams," said Flowers, indicating he has received particular interest from the Bengals, Browns, Packers and 49ers.

"Some want me at quarterback, some want me at running back and some want me at slot. So I've just got to go out there and, like I say, God's got a plan for me already."

After bypassing the 40, (he ran a 4.63 at the NFL combine) and vertical and broad jumps, Flowers and FIU quarterback Alex McGough — a Gaither High alumnus — threw various routes to different receivers in arguably the most scrutinized workout. Flowers later appeared to engage in a brief agility drill with some running backs.

Aside from a couple of mild misfires on short routes, his throws were crisp and accurate — or at least a bit crisper than the ones he brandished at USF. Flowers said it's a byproduct of his extensive winter work with south Florida-based passing coach Oliver Bozeman, whose clientele has included Michael Vick.

"He changed my release point, feet work, he did the whole nine yards," Flowers said. "It's like we started over from scratch. … I give props to him because he reached out to me, I didn't reach out to him."

Defensive tackle Deadrin Senat, a fellow combine participant, said some teams even asked him about Flowers while in Indianapolis.

"When scouts ask me who would I take with me to the (NFL), it's Quinton Flowers all day," Senat said. "Yes, they have asked me that before. I mean, they might as well ask me right now. He's a game changer. I'm going with him."

Question now is, will the plaudits and performances will sway the NFL? At this point, Flowers remains a fringe draft candidate, or a priority undrafted free agent.

"Like (Bozeman) told me during training, everything out here's planned out for you," Flowers said. "God's got a plan for you, so just go out there and do what you do best and do what you've always been doing, and that's play football."

Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls.