re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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Desherrius Flowers got a nice birthday present Thursday morning.

The Alabama 2015 commit and Vigor running back received his official invitation and honorary jersey to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio in January.

"It's a blessing," said Flowers, who turned 18 Thursday. "I'm very excited about playing in the All-American Game. A lot of players wish they had this opportunity, but they don't. I just thank God every time I think about it."

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Flowers is one of 90 players nationwide chosen for the game and the only player from the state of Alabama. The 15th annual event will be held at the Alamodome at noon on Jan. 3 and will be televised by NBC.

"It's a humongous day," Vigor coach Ashley Johnson said. "When one of our guys gets elected to something prestigious like this - a national event - it is big for the whole school. We feel like we all have received an award. We work so closely together. We call ourselves a family here at Vigor, and it really is. It's a wonderful day."

The announcement was attended by many of Flowers' family members, fellow students and teachers as well as the football team and band. Mobile public schools superintendent Martha Peek also was in attendance.

"This is one of the biggest announcements in Vigor High School history," Principal Gerald Cunningham said. "Today is truly a great day."

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Flowers committed to Alabama prior to his junior year and has stayed firm in that pledge since. He re-iterated Thursday that he plans to graduate in December and report to Tuscaloosa in January.

"I'm very excited about going up and starting classes and workouts so I can be ready for the next football season," he said.

Flowers rushed for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns on 136 carries as a junior. As a sophomore, he ran for 922 yards and 12 scores.

This year, he has been hampered by a nagging ankle injury all season but seems to be getting healthy at the right time. Flowers scored three TDs in a win at Faith Academy two weeks ago and ran for 47 yards and an 11-yard touchdown in a 21-6 win over Williamson last week.

"It still bothers me," he said. "I hurt it in practice sometimes but when it comes to game time I always feel 100 percent. I'll be ready to go Friday."

Flowers and his Vigor teammates will take on Class 5A No. 1 St. Paul's in the AL.com Coastal Game of the Week on Friday.

Johnson said Flowers' potential is untapped.

"He is still a very young individual, a kid really," Johnson said. "He might look like a man, but he is still just a kid. He has a lot of growing to do. There is no telling what he could become at Alabama, but we also very proud of what he has going on now. He deserves it. He is going to go and get a free education. Wherever it takes him - whether it is the NFL or not - he will be very prepared to live a fruitful life."

Flowers is ranked No. 10 on AL.com's updated A-list of the top senior players in the state.

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