After two years at UCLA, Flowers looking to help Mustangs

Posted: Aug 11, 2012 3:03 PM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Aug 11, 2012 6:17 PM

Among the many new faces in Cal Poly football's training camp is defensive end Wesley Flowers. The 6-5, 254 pound sophomore finalized his transfer to Cal Poly from UCLA over the weekend.

Flowers is one of nine transfers working out with the Mustangs in their preseason camp that opened on Monday.

The Fresno native will help replace the nine defensive linemen, who graduated from last year's 6-5 team.

Flowers is good friends with Cal Poly defensive back Vante Smith-Johnson. He says he is happy to be one of the newest Mustangs. "Cal Poly just kind of stuck around. They were one of the first schools to offer me a scholarship in high school. They still showed interest and I didn't want to leave California, of course, I'm a California kid," said Flowers. "I'm a hard worker and I can bring intensity to the team and make everyone work as hard as I do."

Flowers attended UCLA for two years. He was a redshirt in 2010 and did not play in a game in 2011. He took part in Spring Drills in 2012 with the Bruins before he left the University.

Flowers is the second UCLA player to transfer to Cal Poly in head coach Tim Walsh's four years with the Mustangs. Wide receiver Dominique Johnson played two years for the Mustangs after transferring to Cal Poly in 2009 from the Bruins.

Flowers played two varsity seasons at Edison High in Fresno as a defensive tackle. He was ranked #79 nationally among defensive tackles by Rivals.com. He registered 75 tackles, including 4 sacks and 20 tackles for loss, his senior year in 2009. He also lettered in basketball and wrestling, while maintaining a 3.7 GPA.

The Mustangs open the season on September 1 against San Diego in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:05 pm.

Four other transfers are debuting this week with the Mustangs including Cameron Ontko a linebacker from the University of Wisconsin and placekicker Bobby Zalud from Arkansas State. Jake Irwin, a defensive lineman from the University of Wisconsin, is one of four transfers, who arrived earlier and participated in spring drills.

The preseason roster also includes 7 walk-ons, 18 redshirts, 19 freshmen and 46 returning lettermen.