|
|
|
Xplosion Sign Little John Flowers by Randy Snow Originally posted on OurSportsCentral.com, Wednesday, March 7, 2007
The Kalamazoo Xplosion of the Continental Indoor Football League have signed former Michigan State and NFL running back Little John Flowers.
Flowers graduated from Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo and also played at Michigan State University. During his senior year in high school, he rushed for 2,120 yards and 29 touchdowns. While at Michigan State, Flowers played in 45 games, carrying the ball 156 times for 778 yards, had a 5.0 yards per carry average and three rushing touchdowns. He also had 50 receptions for 435 yards and returned 20 kickoffs for 332 yards for the Spartans.
From 2002-2005, Flowers attended training camp with the NFL New York Jets as an undrafted free-agent. He was on the team's practice squad in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, Flowers was allocated to NFL Europe by the Jets where he played for the Berlin Thunder. The Thunder lost to the Amsterdam Admirals in World Bowl XIII. In the championship game, Flowers ran the ball 10 times for 52 yards and had six receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. He also played for the Thunder in 2006. Flowers then signed with the New York Giants last fall, but was released by the team during the preseason.
Xplosion head coach Bob Kubiak said Flowers is the team's biggest player signed to date. "Not only does he have a great resume, he's also a great kid," said Kubiak. "He's a kid who wants to work hard and bring a championship to Kalamazoo." Rather than return to Europe for another season, Flowers decided to try indoor football in his home town. "I've known coach Kubiak since I was a little kid," said Flowers. "I just made the decision that, instead of going overseas this year, why not give (indoor) football a try. I've had my five good years in the NFL, Arena football was going to be my next route anyway. Why not come to Kalamazoo and try and help them. It's a different ball game, but it's still football and it looks fun. It fits my style, I love catching the ball." The Xplosion will be having an inter-squad scrimmage at the Soccer Zone on Sprinkle Road in Kalamazoo this Saturday night, March 10, at 7:00 PM. The scrimmage is open to the public and the media. The team's first game of the 2007 CIFL season is on Saturday, March 24 in Ohio against the Marion Mayhem. The first home game for the Xplosion is on Saturday, April 14 at Wings Stadium against the Chicago Slaughter.
|