We sat down with our newest Myprotein ambassador, Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, to talk about football, life, and his favourite Myprotein supps.
Zay is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is 23 years old. He joined the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft after playing for Boston College.Jump to:
Football
How did you get to your position?I would say just believing in yourself and manifesting what you want. This is something I've wanted since I was a kid.
When did you first realize you had a talent for football?When I was six or seven years old.
Do you think you were looked at as an underdog?Oh absolutely. In high school, I was ranked 1100 in the country and 90 something in my position, and 140 in the state of Florida overall. But that's what made me work hard every day and get to where I am.
Was there a moment when you knew, this it it?That was probably college. I would say my sophomore year. My first offers were small, like Boston College. But I just wanted the opportunity to play.
What would you say is the main thing Boston College taught you?I knew that if I went somewhere where they believed in me and I believed in myself, I would be able to do something special.
I became my own person, taking care of my business. And the same goes for football, if you want it for yourself, you have to make it happen.
What's the transition like from college to the NFL?Honestly, the biggest thing is the speed. Everybody in the box, like the D-line and linebackers, gets faster and smarter. And for everyone in the corner, it's the same.
What was it like signing onto the NFL?I don't even know how to explain it. You've just made it to the point that you've been working toward this whole time. So you don't even know how to react, other than smiling and laughing.
Family Life
What was your childhood like?It was all about football—I've been playing since I was four years old.
What was it like being one of fourteen siblings?It was fun—it made me who I am today. Just being around people smiling all the time. You're never going to be by yourself if you're one of fourteen.
Do you think growing up with a bunch of brothers influenced your competitive nature?Oh yeah absolutely. We would have the younger brothers play against the older brothers. Now it wouldn't really be a fair competition.
How did your mom's passing away impact your upbringing?My mom loved football. She put all of us in football—she started it. After she passed, my dad took over and would pack all of us with our bags in his truck. He'd be in the park from 8:00 in the morning to 8:00 at night watching us play all our games.
My dad made it his duty to take care of us.
How instrumental do you think your dad was in your success?I would see my dad go to work every day. I would see him get up at 4:00 in the morning and come back at 5:00 in the evening. He would take all of us to practice, get back at 10:00 PM, and then do it all again.
Then he would get up on Saturdays and take all of our clothes out to wash them. I would sometimes go with him.
How did your brother's passing impact you?He's probably the reason I am the way I am now.
He was one of those people that was always happy. He would make you smile and laugh. He was a genuine person and was that one person that everyone loved. And he was super athletic—he was the fastest one in the family.
What do you think your mother and brother would say if they saw you now?That gave me some motivation because it taught me that life is short. And you have to make life happen and achieve your goals.
They'd probably be super proud. My dad said that my mom loved football. She would probably see me in this position and cry. My brother too.
Who are your idols?My dad. He's the only one.
Training & Diet
What do they teach you about training in the NFL?Keep your body strong and recover all the time. Those are the two main things.
What does your training routine look like?On most days I'll go in and do a lower body lift, cold tub, hot tub, go in the steam room, and get a massage. I'll do that on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and then after that on Wednesdays I have practice. At practice, I'll run like 5000 yards a day.
What are your favourite workouts on the football field?Running routes. That's where you get to perfect it and try to translate it into one-on-ones in the game.
What's your diet like?Honestly, cheeseburgers and pizza. I just found out about Myprotein, but now we're going to get it together. We're going to know about it real well.
How important is health and physical fitness?It keeps me in a good space, where I'm smiling. If I don't work out for a while I'll start feeling sluggish. I like looking good and feeling good.
Do you get a lot of protein in with Myprotein products?Yeah, I was using THE Whey to gain weight. I had three shakes, one in the morning, one after training, and one right before I went to bed. And I gained 13 pounds, and that's what I needed too. Everyone saw my body transformation. I was taking THE Whey for eight weeks.
The Ravens
You've had some success already, why do you think that is?I work that way. Every time I touch a ball, I try to make something happen. I do it at home and when I'm playing with the Ravens.
What's next for you and the Ravens?Trying to make the playoffs.
What are your goals as an NFL player?Be one of the best in my position.
I just want to influence young kids that are in the same position I was in and might feel like the underdog, and show them that they can do what I did, or be even bigger. And that doesn't have to be in football, it could be in anything they like.
Have you had any mentors in the league thus far?Yeah, the vets on my team, like Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman. They help me out with stuff I don't know about that I need to know.
When did you have that moment of realization that you made it?It's definitely when you're on the stage. You walk out and there's a crowd flooded with people and it's a dream come true. Everybody wants to go to the first round and be able to take care of their family and just accomplish a dream they've been working toward a long time.
Do you have a motto?Stay down till you come up.
Year two, time to come up.
Goals for the 2024 Season
The new football season has commenced, and Zay's head is in the game. What exactly are the goals for 2024?
Zay says that every year, his goal is to get better, train harder, and accomplish more than what he did last year. There's always something you can improve on from the year before.
For the current season, Zay is trying to get stronger and gain weight—he's already put on 6-7 lbs with the help of our protein.
The ultimate goal for the season though? Get to the Super Bowl.
When thinking back on last season, all Zay has to say is "We ain't going out like that again."
Take Home Message
Despite his struggles, Zay Flowers accomplished his dream of making it to the NFL at just 23 years old. And he did it with a smile on his face. By staying positive, working hard, and knowing himself and his values, Zay remains a true inspiration.
Myprotein is super excited to work with Zay and see what else he has in store for the future.
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A Rutgers University Honors graduate, Jamie grew up on the Jersey shore and double majored in Comparative Literature and Anthropology in college. Jamie is an experienced writer in the health and wellness, biotech, and eCommerce fields. She loves writing with a purpose and has even written for the Department of Justice.
Jamie became drawn to exercise during her time in university and began to notice the physical and mental benefits of moving your body daily. Today, Jamie enjoys Pilates, light weight training, and going on long walks in nature daily.
Jamie is also passionate about eating right and prioritizing gut health and immunity. She is always trying the next innovation in health and wellness. When she’s not writing articles, Jamie enjoys reading, playing guitar, and finding dogs to play with.