Dan Lanning addresses Justin Flowe’s alter ego

Oregon linebacker Justin Flowe is expected to lead the Ducks’ defensive core alongside teammate and fellow 2023 NFL Draft prospect Noah Sewell. To ensure he has a great season for the Ducks, Flowe has created an alter ego, or mentality called “Heem” that basically allows him to have a winning mindset at all times on and off the football field.

Ducks head coach Dan Lanning cracked a smile when asked about “Heem,” noting that as long as he provides stops on defense, Flowe can be wither of his personalities he wants.

“I love Justin’s passion and energy for the game and he carries it over and everything that he does. It’s fun to coach,” Lanning said. “I think each person gets prepared for the game in a different way. And Justin, one of his greatest strengths is his passion, right?

“I would say this for almost every person, sometimes your greatest strength can become your greatest weakness, too. So, he has to do a great job of controlling that and maintaining, and Justin has done a good job of that.”

Flowe’s litany of injuries might have forced him out of a lot of playing experience so far through his two years at Oregon, as he’s totaled just 15 tackles and one tackle for loss with the Ducks so far, but entering the 2022 season, he is a clear breakout candidate and could quickly rise up the board with a productive year.

If he can recapture that same magic that helped him put together his impressive high school resume – then you can expect him to have a long, successful NFL career. 

Flowe won the prestigious Butkus Award in 2019, which recognized him as the nation’s top linebacker at the high school level. He entered his freshman season at Oregon as a Five Star Plus+ recruit ranked as the No. 5 player in the Class of 2020 (and No. 1 linebacker), according to the On3 Consensus. 

Even one healthy season from Flowe would be enough to skyrocket his draft stock. Being a projected first round draft choice with just two complete games of collegiate experience is something that doesn’t happen often in football at all.