Road to the 2024 NFL Draft: Get to know former Redhawk Ryan Flournoy off the field

This is the first of a five-part series on Ryan Flournoy as he prepares for the NFL Draft.

Southeast Missouri State football fans are familiar with seeing Ryan Flournoy perform on Saturdays, but they might not be familiar with who the standout SEMO wide receiver is off the field.

Flournoy hails from Hazelcrest, Ill, and is expected to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.

While much of Flournoy’s time is spent preparing for a moment he’s been dreaming of forever, he typically makes sure to find time to enjoy himself and his hobbies away from the field.

“I’m a big movie guy,” Flournoy said. “I like all types of movies whether it’s a comedy or scary movie. I just enjoy getting to sit down and watch a good movie.”

With the draft drawing near, and Flournoy looking to improve his draft stock, there isn’t much time for movies.

“At this point, it’s just football all the time,” Flournoy said. “I actually just got back from California so I’ve had just a couple of days to chill. But, for now, I’m still training and really studying football.”

According to Flournoy, one of the most difficult parts for an athlete to enjoy oneself off the field is being able to separate yourself from constantly thinking about the sport, but developing that mindset wasn’t always easy for Flournoy.

“It’s a balance,” Flournoy said. “I have a switch to where it’s time for football or it’s time for family or time to give my girlfriend attention. I think I have a good balance with it.”

“I had to develop that as a teenager. I was always football, football, football. But, I have to focus on my girlfriend, my family and other things so it really helped mold me into realizing I can’t think about football all the time.”

As the NFL Draft looms, keeping that balance can be even more difficult for Flournoy as nearly everywhere he turns he’s being asked about the draft, or seeing draft projections on social media or in the news.

“It’s a lingering thing,” Flournoy said. “Everything I see is about the draft, so it’s really hard but I’m just keeping my head level and focusing on positivity.”

Flournoy also possesses a unique talent, one that benefits him not only in the game of football but in life.

“My hidden talent is that I can do literally anything,” Flournoy said. “A lot of football teams I’ve been on everybody has asked ‘What can’t you do.’ Even outside of football, I’m a creative mind. I think I can do anything.”

Next week’s story on Flournoy will dive into the entirety of his football career from how he started playing football to today.