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Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald announced June 3 the addition of six non-scholarship student-athletes to the Wildcats' 2010 roster, including the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Flores.
In recent years, scholarship reductions have increased the importance of attracting quality walk-ons to a football program. In addition, many walk-ons earn full scholarships while attending Northwestern. In the last 11 years, the Wildcats have awarded 30 full scholarships to walk-ons.
"Every year, our non-scholarship players make a huge impact on our program and we reward as many as possible," said Fitzgerald. "We had a number of former walk-ons play prominent roles for our football team in 2009, led by Zeke Markshausen. Zeke is just one example of the many talented walk-ons who join our program and work their tails off to become significant contributors on the field. I'm pleased to welcome these six student-athletes to our football family."
Northwestern's six walk-ons for 2010 are offensive lineman Hayden Baker (Trout Valley, Ill./Cary-Grove), defensive back Joe Cannon (Oconomowoc, Wis./Marquette University H.S.), wide receiver Torin Dupper (Decatur, Ala./Decatur), defensive back Mike Eshun (Madison, Wis./Edgewood), superback Christian Flores (Brambleton, Va./Briar Woods) and running back Tim Hanrahan (Frankfort, Ill./Providence Catholic).
Northwestern is savoring its most successful stretch of football in school history. Since 1995, the Wildcats have posted nine seasons with six or more victories. In the last decade (2000-09), the Wildcats won six or more games seven times (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and touted six bowl-eligible teams. Northwestern finished the last decade with an overall record of 61-60. In the last 15 years, only Ohio State and Michigan have won more Big Ten titles than the Wildcats' three conference crowns. NU has won a combined 17 games the past two seasons, which ranks as the third-most wins in a two-year period in school history. The Wildcats are coming off a 2010 New Year's Day appearance in the Outback Bowl.
Off the field, Northwestern's football program is shining, too. The Wildcats had a school-record 60 players earn a 3.0 grade point average for the 2010 winter quarter, and for the second time in school history, the team earned a cumulative GPA of better than 3.0. Northwestern had a school-record 29 football student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2009, with two of those individuals being named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans. Northwestern's football student-athletes also volunteer over 800 hours of combined community outreach each year, as well.
Northwestern begins preseason camp the weekend of Aug. 7 and 8, in preparation for its Sept. 4 season opener at Vanderbilt University.
More on Christian Flores
6-2 • 215
Brambleton, Va. • Briar Woods
Projected Position: Superback
High School: Played at Briar Woods during his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons before competing with the Virginia Lions as a senior ... Totaled 24 receptions for 493 yards and 3 TD's in seven games as a wide receiver/tight end for the Lions in 2009 ... Earned team's Offensive Player of the Game (vs. Carlisle High) and team's Dedication Award ... Totaled nine receptions for 123 yards and a TD vs. Carlisle ... Also added 28 solo tackles and 35 assisted tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble and one interception, while playing defensive end, linebacker and strong safety ... Team captain ... Briar Woods went 8-3 and made the playoffs in his junior season ... Ranked fifth among senior class ... NHS, Spanish NHS, Math NHS, AP Scholar, Spanish III Award, Excellence in Education honoree and Leadership in the Law selectee ... Also lettered in basketball and baseball ... Coached by Vincent Owens, Charlie Pierce and Stephen Celio.
Personal: Born Christian Gerard Flores ... Son of Roy and Victoria Flores ... Plans to major in broadcast journalism.
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