Justin Flowe
Justin Flowe is an American college football linebacker who starred at Upland High School in California before playing at Oregon, Arizona, and UNLV. As a high school senior in 2019, he collected 434 career tackles, won the national Butkus Award, and received USA Today Defensive Player of the Year honors. A five-star recruit, he signed with the Oregon Ducks in 2020. Injuries interrupted his early career, but he delivered a 14-tackle performance in his first collegiate start in 2021. Flowe transferred to Arizona in 2023, where he posted 44 tackles and a sack across 17 games over two seasons. In 2025, he moved to UNLV, playing 12 games for the Rebels.
Justin Flowe won the 2019 high school Butkus Award and USA Today Defensive Player of the Year honors before playing college football as an inside linebacker for Oregon, Arizona, and UNLV. Rated as a consensus five-star recruit out of Southern California, he established a reputation for hard hits and sideline-to-sideline pursuit. Injuries limited his early collegiate seasons, prompting moves through the NCAA transfer portal.
Prep career at Upland High School
Flowe played prep football at Upland High School in Southern California under head coach Darryl Thomas. He played alongside his brother Jonathan Flowe, who was also a highly rated linebacker prospect. Over four seasons, Flowe became one of the top high school defenders in the nation.
Flowe finished his high school career with 434 tackles, 24 sacks, 48 tackles for loss, and 10 forced fumbles across 27 double-digit tackle performances. As a senior in 2019, he recorded 123 tackles, 10 sacks, and five forced fumbles, alongside 238 rushing yards on offense. That earned him the 2019 Butkus Award as the top high school linebacker in the country and USA Today Defensive Player of the Year honors. He later participated in both the All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl before committing to the University of Oregon.
Oregon Ducks
Flowe arrived in Eugene as the nation's top-ranked inside linebacker recruit in the 2020 class. His true freshman season in 2020 ended after one game due to a season-ending injury.
He returned for the 2021 season opener. In his first career collegiate start, Flowe posted 14 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. That earned him Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors. He became the first Oregon player since 2007 to record at least 14 tackles and a forced fumble in a single game. A significant ankle injury sidelined him shortly afterward. In 2022, Flowe played a full season and finished ninth on the team with 35 tackles before entering the transfer portal.
Arizona and UNLV
Flowe transferred to the University of Arizona ahead of the 2023 season. He earned spots on the preseason Butkus Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists. Flowe appeared in 17 games across two seasons with the Wildcats, registering a career-best 44 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack in 2023. His top outing came against Mississippi State, where he made 12 tackles.
In May 2025, Flowe entered the transfer portal for a second time and signed with the UNLV Rebels. He was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl Preseason Watch List prior to the season. Flowe played in 12 games for UNLV during the 2025 season, contributing 14 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and a pass breakup.
Quick facts
- Won the 2019 high school Butkus Award as the top prep linebacker in the country.
- Named the 2019-20 USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year.
- Accumulated 434 tackles, 24 sacks, 48 tackles for loss, and 10 forced fumbles during his high school career at Upland.
- Played high school football alongside his brother Jonathan Flowe.
- Selected to play in both the 2020 All-American Bowl and the 2020 Polynesian Bowl.
- Recorded 14 tackles and a forced fumble in his first career college start at Oregon, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.
- Became the first Oregon player since 2007 to record at least 14 tackles and force a fumble in the same game.
- Named to the 2023 Butkus Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy preseason watch lists while at Arizona.
- Logged a single-game season high of 12 tackles against Mississippi State in September 2023.
- Transferred to UNLV in May 2025 and appeared in 12 games during the 2025 season.
- Named to the East-West Shrine Bowl Preseason Watch List ahead of the 2025 season.
FAQs about Justin Flowe
Where is Justin Flowe from?
Justin Flowe was born in Chino, California, and attended Upland High School in Upland, California.
Where did Justin Flowe go to college?
Flowe began his college career at Oregon from 2020 to 2022, played for Arizona from 2023 to 2024, and transferred to UNLV in 2025.
What high school awards did Justin Flowe win?
Flowe won the 2019 high school Butkus Award as the nation's best prep linebacker and was named the 2019-20 USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year.
Who is Justin Flowe's brother?
His brother is Jonathan Flowe, a fellow linebacker who played alongside him at Upland High School.
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