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2015 NFL Draft Combine Profile: Miami Offensive Tackle Ereck Flowers

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By @bradberreman24

Ereck Flowers, NFL Draft, 2015 NFL Draft

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The University of Miami is not the NFL factory it once was, and that is not going to change much with the 2015 draft class. Offensive tackle Ereck Flowers is fairly certain to be the first former Hurricane drafted this spring, and he is a rising prospect heading into the upcoming NFL Combine.

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN had Flowers at No. 18 on his Big Board in late January, and just last week Joel Klatt of Fox Sports moved Flowers up 21 spots to No. 17 in his own rankings. He chose to forego his senior season and enter this year’s draft, but he played both right and left tackle at Miami and has plenty of starting experience. He is not considered the top offensive tackle prospect right now, but a lot of early mock drafts have Flowers as a mid-to-late first-round pick. A standout performance at the combine would at least solidify, and likely boost, his draft stock.

Flowers is considered an excellent run blocker, with good size (6’5, 322 lbs) and underrated athleticism. Some analysts don’t see him becoming a left tackle at the next level, with issues with speed rushers and leverage in pass protection most commonly noted, but there is little argument about Flowers’ overall physical tools and upside potential at this point.

It would probably take a Tony Mandarich-style performance in combine drills, and the resulting dwarfing of his peers, for Flowers to become a top-10 pick and the first offensive tackle drafted. I’m comfortable saying that won’t happen, but I think Flowers has a lot to gain with a good showing at the combine and his status as a prospect on the rise is at stake.

Brad Berreman is a Columnist/Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Connect with him on Twitter or Google +.

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