USF quarterback one of five Bulls in final top 25 offensive player rankings
TAMPA, JAN. 4, 2018 – USF quarterback Quinton Flowers (Miami) has added yet another accolade to his prodigious resume as he was named the 2017 State Offensive Player of the Year by the Miami Herald.
It marked the second straight year the record-setting Bulls quarterback claimed the honor, which the Herald refers to as the “state Heisman” for the seven Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college teams in Florida. The award is based on a weekly points system that evaluates productivity.
Flowers’ outstanding Birmingham Bowl, which earned him MVP honors for the second straight season in a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech, helped propel him past UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton for the top honor. Flowers accounted for 417 total yards and five touchdowns in the USF victory, including the game-winning touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining.
Flowers was one of five USF players to make the Herald’s final top 25 ranking, equaling UCF for the most of any team in the state. Joining Flowers in the top 25 were senior wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (No. 11), senior running back Darius Tice (No. 12), senior running back D’Ernest Johnson (No. 13) and junior wide receiver Tyre McCants (No. 21). Flowers posted a weekly point average of 229.13 to edge Milton at 223.19, both standing far ahead of the remaining field. Rounding out the top five were Miami quarterback Malik Rosier (171.27), FAU running back Devin Singletary (165.79) and FIU quarterback Alex McGough (135.08).
Flowers, who owns 42 USF records and finished his career as the program and American Athletic Conference career leader in total offense (11,802), accounted for 36 touchdowns on the season for a USF team that went 10-2, was ranked in the top 25 the entire season, and won its second straight bowl game. He equaled a USF season record, passing for 2,911 yards and broke his own program record, throwing 25 touchdown passes. Flowers posted a 142.10 pass efficiency rating while throwing just six interceptions. He also posted his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season, leading USF with 1,078 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
Flowers posted his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season, and fourth straight, in the Birmingham Bowl as he galloped for 106 yards and touchdown. He also logged his fourth 300-yard passing game in his last five games, setting a USF record for most 300-yard games in a season, while throwing for 311 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-winning 26-yard touchdown pass to McCants.