There are a lot of great high school football players around the country, but there is only a handful in each position group considered the elite of the elite. When you talk linebackers, one of the first names that come to people’s minds in the 2020 recruiting class is Justin Flowe from Upland High School in California.
2018 Recap
Flowe is a 6-3, 225-pound senior and is regarded as the #1 linebacker in California and nationally in the 2020 recruiting class. As a junior, Flowe led the Highlanders with 145 tackles, averaged 12.1 tackles per game, and had 17 tackles for a loss. He also added 5 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. This was Flowe’s second straight season with 100+ tackles. He had 119 tackles in 2017 as a sophomore.
His leadership and play on the field helped Upland win a CIF-Southern Section Division 2 championship and earned him the San Bernardino Sun Defensive Player of the Year award. He was also the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 Defensive Player of the Year. He is a 2-time award winner for the California All-USA Today football team.
EFN Evaluation
Justin has an EFN Player Rating of 97 and has received just about every award you can possibly win before he even plays his senior year.
He is a rare talent that has a special combination of physical tools, speed, athleticism, intelligence, and skill level on the field. He plays 100 mph and with an intensity not found in most high school athletes.
He has the versatility to play in the box and in space and his burst to the football is unmatched. His explosive fast-twitch athleticism and outstanding on-field awareness make him a feared pass rusher and a player that can totally dismantle an offense. He has the strength and power to take on any lineman in the box and has the cover skills to lockdown a tight end or running back.
Future Options
Colleges took notice early in his career and he now has over 40 Division 1 scholarship offers from all the elite programs in Power 5 conferences. On April 26, he narrowed down his list to 12 schools.
USC, Oregon, and Arizona State are the Top 3 PAC-12 schools that he is considering. Outside of the west coast, he has a strong interest in Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida, Miami FLA, Ohio State, and Texas. He hasn’t said when he will commit, or if he will narrow his list down even more. His recruiting situation will heat up even more as we get closer to the start of the season.
Upland won the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 Championship knocking off Rancho Verde 24-13. They advanced to the Division 2 State Championship Bowl Game and fell short losing to Siera Canyon 7-3.
Justin’s last major goal to accomplish before he leaves for college is winning the state championship. It will be a tough challenge and a long road to get back to the finals, but with Justin leading the defense, anything is possible.
