New England Patriots DE Trey Flowers Turning Hard Work into Success

New England Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers has emerged as the team’s best pass rusher in his second season in the NFL.

When it comes to hard work, New England Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers knows what it takes to be an impactful football player. Following an injury-filled rookie season, the product of Arkansas has emerged to lead the team in sacks and is only getting better.

While most of his success this season can be attributed to opportunity, Flowers’ dedication to getting better on the football field has made it no surprise to his teammates that he is producing at a high level. Patriots defensive captain Dont’a Hightower lauded the second-year defensive end for that dedication and hard work.

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"“Trey’s been one of the hardest workers on the team,” Hightower said via AL.com “He’s one of the guys who’s first in, last out. He stays after practice. For him to be playing the way he’s playing, it doesn’t surprise me at all. …“I’m impressed, absolutely, but it’s expected from a guy who works as hard as he does. We’re able to do a lot of different things with him in there. He’s kind of a smaller-build guy, but he plays a lot bigger than that.”"

A fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Flowers showed signs of the type of player he could be during the 2015 preseason. Due to shoulder and knee injuries, he only got on the field one game during his rookie season. He didn’t let that deter him, however, he turned a hard year into motivation.

"“It’s definitely a blessing,” Flowers said. “God gave me the opportunity to come out and play. Obviously, last year was a hard year for me. That was my first time sitting out since I started playing at 7 years old, so to be able to come back and just be prepared and just be able to help my team win is a definite blessing.”"

Flowers will get his first playoff experience this Saturday against the Houston Texans. As the team’s starting right defensive end, he could have an impact on the game defensively as his presence and ability to play at an inside position allows the team to do many different things scheme wise.

"“He’s been very productive for us in there,” New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “He has caused a lot of pressures, and his penetration in the middle of the pocket a lot of times opens things up for one of the other defensive tackles or defensive ends that wrap around into the space that he has created with that penetration. So it’s not just the plays that he makes, but he creates some for his teammates, too.”"

Trey Flowers hopes to continue to blossom as he will make his postseason debut.

Next: Boston Celtics Forward Al Horford Makes Return to Atlanta

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