Newest SEMO WR makes immediate (and BIG) impact this spring

Southeast Missouri State junior wide receiver Ryan Flournoy watches his teammates compete in the Redhawks' annual spring game on Friday at Jackson High School in Jackson.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

“He scores a touchdown every day.”

That was the assessment of eighth-year Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz on the spring performance of junior college wide receiver transfer, Ryan Flournoy, earlier this spring.

Flournoy didn’t disappoint when the snaps were for real (or at least more real) on Friday.

Flournoy hauled in a pair of touchdown passes from junior quarterback Paxton DeLaurent to lead Team SEMO to a 31-7 beating of Team Redhawk in SEMO’s annual spring football game, which was played for the first time since 2018 AND was played at The Pit at Jackson High School.

“I think that I am a better coach if Ryan is handling the ball,” Redhawk offensive coordinator Jeromy McDowell laughed following the game. “That would definitely make us look a lot better.”

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound athlete has made a circuitous route to Cape Girardeau, but the Redhawk coaching staff is thrilled with his development since arriving in January.

“He is a talented young man,” McDowell continued, “but what I love about him is that he is just a good, young man. He’s quiet. He’s about his business and he’s obviously talented.”

Flournoy graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in the Chicago suburbs in 2018 and spent that fall at Central Missouri as a redshirt.

In 2019, he caught 17 receptions for the Mules, before the program didn’t compete in 2020.

He landed at Iowa Western Community College last fall and was second on the team with 38 receptions but led the Reivers with seven scores.

His best game came in the NJCAA National Championship game, as he caught six balls for 170 yards and scored both of his team’s touchdowns in a 31-13 loss.

“It’s going to be fun in the fall watching him go catch balls and make plays,” McDowell said.

Flournoy joins an extremely talented group of pass-catchers, though they may not be household names among Houck Stadium just yet.

Senior Johnny King returns following a solid junior year, while Missouri State transfer Damoriea Vick was a standout for the Bears two years ago.

“I think wide receiver may be one of our strongest positions,” Matukewicz said.

Flournoy hasn’t allowed his practice (or spring game) immediate impact to get to his head. As McDowell said, he just quietly works hard every day and is taking advantage of opportunities as they come.

“It’s just hard work and dedication,” Flournoy said. “I’ve been putting in work ever since I got here and even before I got here.”

Flournoy added nearly 10 pounds of muscle during the Redhawks’ winter strength training program and wants to get up to 205 pounds by training camp in August.

He says body weight may be a slight weakness now, but he makes up for that in other ways.

“My strengths are my hands and the ability to get open,” Flournoy said.

That showed on his second touchdown reception Friday, where DeLaurent extended the play by scrambling as Flournoy circled back at the goal line for the score.

“He had a really good day,” Matukewicz said. “I’m excited about him.”