South Florida’s 2 first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft were gems hidden in plain sight
Calijah Kancey didn’t have a scholarship offer from Miami, Florida State or Florida when he graduated from Northwestern back in 2019. Zay Flowers didn’t when he graduatd from NSU University, either.
Both went to Atlantic Coast Conference schools surrounded by the same type of questions: They were too small and not quite athletic enough; their production was good, but not quite overwhelming enough to ease all coaches’ concerns; they weren’t even close to the biggest stars at their powerhouse schools.
Four years later, they were the only two players from South Florida picked in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday.
Kancey, who was a unanimous All-American for the Pittsburgh Panthers last year, went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 19. Flowers, who broke records for the Boston College Eagles, went three picks later to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 22.
In the Class of 2019, Kancey was the No. 45 prospect from the Miami metropolitan area, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and Flowers was No. 61. Only one player from the Miami metro area ranked ahead of them in the 2019 recruiting class has also been a first-round pick—former Benjamin cornerback Kaiir Elam went to the Bills in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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The 2019 class was a bit of a down cycle for the Miami area with no one ranked among the top 35 in the nation, but Kancey and Flowers provide a reminder of just how many hidden gems there are in this region.
Kancey, 6-foot-1 and 281 pounds, certainly developed in college, but he was also a first-team all-county selection by the Miami Herald and won two state championships with the Bulls. Flowers, 5-9 and 182 pounds, was also a first-team All-Broward County selection by the Herald and even won two state titles in boys’ basketball with the Sharks, playing with Raptors forward Scottie Barnes and Jazz center Vernon Carey Jr.
Kancey didn’t even have two dozen offers. Flowers only had about 30 and none from any of the biggest, most successful programs in the country.
Both were something of late bloomers.
Kancey put on about 30 pounds at Pittsburgh and didn’t sacrifice any of his athleticism, evidenced by his record-setting 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine last month. After he ran the 40 in 4.67 seconds, comparisons to star Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald — another former Panther and three-star recruit — grew and Kancey locked in his place in Round 1.
As much as Kancey appreciates the comparisons, he’s also trying to brush them off.
“That’s a great comparison, honestly, but I’m Calijah Kancey at the end of the day,” Kancey said. “I’m Calijah Kancey and that’s who I want to make a name for.”
Although Flowers didn’t get the same sort of obvious All-Pro comparison, he did get a high-profile seal of approval: Steve Smith Sr., who was a four-time All-Pro with the Panthers and finished his career with the Ravens, singled out Flowers as one of his favorite players in this NFL Draft in a video for UnderdogFantasy.com, brushing aside a question about Flowers’ height by saying, “He’s play-making ability, that’s how tall he is.”
In Baltimore, Flowers gets to team up with another once-overlooked South Floridian. Superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson, a former three-star recruit out of Boynton Beach, signed a massive five-year extension with the Ravens earlier Thursday.
“It worked out perfect,” Flowers said. “I’m ready to get to work, ready to get some wins, ready to go play with Lamar.”
