Rico Flores Jr.
Rico Flores Jr. is a 4-star athlete who is considered to be one of the top-tier student—athletes in the 2023 class. Rico Flores Jr. stands at 6-foot-1, 190-pound Wide Receiver who runs a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash and has a 36-inch vertical jump. Flores is a player with a good physique and explosiveness, especially in his lower body. He has a wide upper body, solid overall physical makeup, and soft hands. He excels in two-way snaps, showing agility, physicalness, and toughness. He is quick off the snap, creates separation, and makes tough catches, especially on deep ball routes. He is comfortable playing both on the outside and in the slot and is adequate in the run game as a blocker. He has the potential to provide instant depth and play on special teams, with room to improve and become a power-5 starter in college.
SHOP NOWRico Flores
Class: Freshman
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6’1
Weight: 190
Hometown: Sacramento, California
High School: Folsom
Birthday: 12/30/04
Rico Flores had a noteworthy career playing for the varsity team at Folsom, spanning four seasons from his freshman year in 2019-2020 to his senior year season in 2022-23 he played a total of 41 games. In his first season as a freshman, he recorded 378 total yards with an average of 47.3 yards per game. The following season as a sophomore, he had a significant increase in total yards, totaling 606 yards with an average of 101 yards per game. In his junior year, Rico stepped up his game even further, recording 1,209 total yards with an average of 80.6 yards per game, including a personal best 52 rush yards. His senior year was his most productive season, totaling 1,109 yards with an average of 92.4 yards per game and 28 rush yards.
Rico Flores Background
Throughout his varsity career, Rico accumulated 3,302 total yards with an average of 80.5 yards per game. His consistent improvement year after year is a testament to his dedication and hard work, making him a valuable asset to Notre Dame. In addition to his offensive contributions, Flores was also a solid defender. Throughout his high school career, he recorded 44 tackles, including 18 as a junior and 13 as a freshman. He had two interceptions, with one each in his junior and senior years respectively. Flores also made an impact on special teams, showcasing his speed and agility as a kickoff and punt returner. Throughout his high school career, he returned 16 kickoffs for 412 yards, averaging 25.8 yards per return, and 18 punts for 174 yards, averaging 9.7 yards per return. Finally, Flores was a scoring machine, finishing his high school career with 34 touchdowns, including 32 receiving touchdowns and one each of rushing, fumble recovery, and punt return touchdowns. He accumulated a total of 206 points, averaging 1 touchdown per game.
SHOP NOWRico Flores Early Life
Rico Flores grew up in North Highlands, located in the Northern region of Sacramento or “North Sac, North Highlands to be exact” as Flores puts it. Rico Flores has gone through many struggles growing up as a kid. Flores’s mom, a single mother playing both roles as mother and father, always motivated Rico to push past the negativity and violence surrounding him. Staying committed to his dreams and staying out of the streets was the most important thing for Rico. Much of Rico Flores Jr’s young life consisted of time with his cousins playing basketball at the Charles Robertson Community Park. Flores said he would walk around all of North Sac whether it was to go to the gas station to get snacks or walk to Belle Park, Rico was always on the move. Once Rico’s grandma moved, he spent most of his time down Norwood Ave going to Macdonald’s, or going to the apartments during the summertime to go swimming.
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Rico Flores' Uncle
Flores’ Uncle calls Rico an inspiration to himself and has always been proud to be Rico’s Uncle. Without a father, Rico’s uncle always tried to steer him in the right direction to keep on track with his goals for the future. His Aunt Renata has watched Rico develop into the rising star he is today, putting in countless hours of work to get to this point. A lot of what has separated Rico Flores from others in his class is the mentality, maturity, and focus he has for football.
SHOP NOWRico Flores and Notre Dame
Assembling a squad with the potential to bring home a national championship requires a foundation built upon successful recruitment efforts. The Notre Dame football program is accomplishing just that, consistently ranking among the top teams in the country in terms of attracting talented prospects. With Spring Football 2023 coming around the corner for the Fighting Irish, we can see that the University of Notre Dame is ramping up to have one of the best seasons in the past decade. Despite a coaching change, the Irish still managed to secure the 9th-best recruiting class of 2022. And now, with a year of experience under his belt, head coach Freeman looks poised to lead the program to even greater heights in 2023, securing the 8th-best class. Although losing 5-star safety Peyton Bowen to Oklahoma at the last minute was a tough blow, Notre Dame still boasts an impressive 20 four-star recruits, including a standout in Rico Flores Jr. Coach Freeman's abilities as a recruiter are evident in this talented incoming class. If these freshmen can make an immediate impact on the field, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will undoubtedly be among the top teams in the nation. At the very least, these recruits will add to the team's existing wealth of young talent, setting the stage for a promising future.
As a globally recognized brand, Notre Dame has a massive advantage on the field through its extensive network of alumni in virtually every industry. With the advent of NIL, the Fighting Irish have a chance to showcase their team spirit and bring their fans closer to the game like never before. But to stay ahead of the curve, Notre Dame needs to embrace the new opportunities NIL provides and leverage its vast network, all while upholding the core values that define the university.
Rico Flores Jr. and the Fighting Irish
Rico Flores Jr. was one of the most sought-after Wide Receivers of the 2023 class. Rico Flores Jr. received a jaw-dropping 31 offers from schools such as Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and Notre Dame to name a few. Rico had a lot of decisions to make and decided that the best fit for his collegiate career would be the University of Notre Dame. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have secured a remarkable victory on the recruiting front with the official commitment of highly sought-after wide receiver, Rico Flores Jr. Despite only visiting the campus once during the recruitment process, the Irish coaching staff was able to make a lasting impression, leaving a solid commitment from Flores that held strong throughout the fall season.
SHOP NOWAn all-star in the making
Flores is a true standout on the field, ranking among the top 30 wide receivers in the country and being named the No. 218 overall player in 2023. He has a bright future ahead of him and is set to showcase his exceptional skills at the All-American Bowl in January. The Irish coaching staff will have much to look forward to, as Flores was also recognized for his outstanding performance in the 2021 spring season, making the California All-State First Team. Rico Flores Jr. is a shining star both on and off the gridiron. He's set to electrify the field and become a key figure in the Notre Dame locker room. Although his catches may be scarce during his Freshman season, his impact will be felt soon enough. Flores Jr. has a knack for snagging tough receptions and leaving defenders in his wake, making him a prime candidate to become one of college football's top Wide Receivers and a potential NFL sensation.
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