Ereck Flowers Expected to be 1st 'Cane Selected in 1st Round Since 2008

With the NFL Draft now just weeks away, one Miami Hurricane has continually and consistently generated the most buzz among pundits.

Coming off an outstanding junior season at UM in which he allowed 0 sacks and had just two holding penalties, not to mention coming back from a torn meniscus in just two weeks, Ereck Flowers cemented himself as a solid NFL prospect.

Then at the NFL Combine, he racked up a combine best 37 reps at the bench press and displayed terrific overall athleticism, to further fuel his improving stock.

At Miami's Pro Day, there was also no letdown, keeping Flowers 1st round chances solid:

Fox Sports' Joel Klatt lists Flowers as the best overall O lineman in the draft:

Cam Ervin ranks as the second best OL on @joelklatt’s #NFLDraft board pic.twitter.com/09aa1ybX0z

— America's Pregame (@AmericasPregame) April 20, 2015

Could the Giants take Flowers as soon as the #9 overall pick with Big Blue?

Future #NFL #proCane OT Ereck Flowers reveals pre-draft visit with #Giants http://t.co/hjrXaTKStl

— proCanes.com (@proCanes) April 15, 2015

SB Nation's NY Giants site, Big Blue View, looked at all of the possibilities.  I made the case for Flowers.

The mother ship has him going #25 overall to Carolina.

The fine folks at Canal Street Chronicles, SBN's Cincinnati Bengals site, are hoping he is still on the board at #21 overall.

http://t.co/AE073BBCta Cincinnati Bengals: Making the case for Ereck Flowers #NFL pic.twitter.com/CzcpOKAF3f

— The Boys (@TheBoysApp) April 21, 2015

CBS Sports has him at #10 overall to the St Louis Rams.

Bottom line, the big man from Norland H.S. and former high school teammate of Duke Johnson, is likely the first 'Canes player off the board and their first 1st round draft pick since Kenny Phillips in 2008.

However, he may not be alone this season.

Mel Kiper had 3 Hurricanes going among the first 31 picks back in February.

Nonetheless, in most scouts' minds,  it is Flowers who is the surest thing coming out of Coral Gables this year.

And while things have not quite turned around on the field for the Hurricanes, the anticipated return to the NFL Draft's 1st Round for "NFL U"  is certainly something to be proud of.

Stay tuned for much for coverage on the 'Canes and the NFL Draft right here on SOTU in the coming weeks.