Former Daleville standout finding his way at Jacksonville State

De’Marcus Flowers patiently waited for more than two years to get his opportunity to shine at Jacksonville State, and in 2017 he did just that by leading his team as its top kick returner.

Flowers was a standout at Daleville High School, gaining more than 2,500 rushing yards in his junior and senior seasons, and earned a scholarship to play for Jacksonville State in 2014 as a result. Flowers pointed to the rigorous workouts that former Daleville coach

Josh Parrish put him through as helping him get ready for college.

“The workouts Coach Parrish had us doing in high school gave me the strength to never give up when I felt like quitting,” he said. “Cross fit was intense in high school and when I got to college, workouts and conditioning was easy for me because I was already prepared for it.”

As it is for most college athletes fresh out of high school, Flowers said that the speed of the game was one of the toughest things about college football.

“Really the toughest part was getting used to the game speed,” he said. “Learning how to manage my time and accepting the fact that everybody is just as talented as me here, too.”

As a freshman, Flowers was a redshirt and in 2015 he spent the season as a scout player, helping his teammates get better.

In 2016, as a redshirt sophomore Flowers saw his first game action, a special teams player, but heading into his redshirt junior season in 2017 Flowers began to turn heads.

“I learned that having patience and staying humble would get the coaches to trust me and that would get me on the field so that I can help the team,” Flowers said of learning to be patient.

In Jacksonville State’s spring game, Flowers broke off a number of long runs and scored two touchdowns on the ground. He earned his way into the running back rotation and ultimately won the No. 1 kick returner duties.

Finally, Flowers would get a chance to show Jacksonville State fans the electric speed and athleticism that Daleville fans had grown accustomed to seeing during his high school career.

On Oct. 7, Flowers earned Ohio Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors after dazzling fans with an 87-yard kickoff return touchdown, the first such return score for Jacksonville State since 2011.

For the season, Flowers returned 20 kicks for 484 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 96 yards and two more scores.

”The biggest difference for me this year is that I’m taking advantage of every opportunity that I get and I know the playbook a lot better,” Flowers said.

Flowers said that the hard work he’s been putting into football since high school has stated to pay off for him.

“It’s been a really good experience for me,” he said. “Hard work pays off at the end of the day and I’m blessed to have the opportunity to play the game of football.”

With Jacksonville State senior starting running Roc Thomas graduating this season, Flowers will also have the opportunity to compete for that position heading into his own senior season.

Flowers, though, isn’t so much concentrated on being a starter as much as he as affecting his team positively and getting his degree.

“My goals for my senior season are to remain healthy and just be an impact player for my team,” he said. “I want to graduate with my degree and then hopefully get a chance to play at the next level.”