Offseason Update Interview with 3-Star 2021 California CB Tristyn Flores
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Year after year, Rancho Cucamonga develops some of the top high school football players in the state of California. Beyond the coaching on the field, the Cougars line up against some of the state’s best giving their players that iron sharpening iron feel to their game. The 2019 season was no different, and Class of 2021 cornerback Tristyn Flores took advantage of the opportunity.
So it seems, every other California high school squad has a three-star ranked, or better, receiver on the roster. The Cougars took on the likes of Calabasas, Norco, Westlake, Chino Hills, Upland, Murrieta Valley, Long Beach Poly, and Sierra Canyon a year ago and welcomed Nevada’s Faith Lutheran in a rude 49-7 romp getting their fill of highly coveted skill position college prospects. During all the action, Flores developed his talents into a three-star recruit producing 24 stops, 17 solo, with a tackle for a loss, a pick-six, and knocked away eight attempts. College programs have taken notice of the 6-0, 170-pound, defender with offers extended from Arizona State, Florida Atlantic, and Northern Arizona.
In an RNG first-look interview, Flores goes one-on-one covering the growth of his play at corner with an update on his recruiting opportunities.
Interview
Tristyn, you had a big season working against top Division 1/2 California receivers in 2019. Is there a game from last season that stands out as a best performance for you?
“The Calabasas game. I was going against two of the best receivers in the country (Johnny Wilson (ASU) and Jermaine Burton (Georgia). I did not allow any passes in that game.”
What coverages were you guys running in the Cougars’ secondary last season?
“In the beginning we were running a Cover 2, that was our main coverage, but then we went straight man across the board.”
How did the technical part of your game as a corner improve during your junior campaign?
“My hips got better, I was breaking on the ball faster, and reading the quarterback’s eyes better. I recognized tendencies on third downs, and what they are doing on first downs.”
Which areas of your game have you been working on this spring?
“I’m trying to gain weight and keep my speed. I’ve been working on my hips, flexibility, press technique, and transitions; I work on that daily.”
When the 2020 season begins, will you be playing any other positions?
“Next year the plan is to play both safety spots and corner on defense. I will also be playing receiver and doing kick and punt return.”
Your speed, I have to ask you about that. What is the fastest-timed run you’ve posted?
“We only had one meet this year, in my first meet I ran a 10.9 in the 100.”
Nice. With team workouts cancelled, what have you been doing in your daily workouts to stay sharp?
“100 push-ups, 150 sit ups, bike riding, and I try to run as much as I can going around my block.”
Turning to recruiting. Which schools are showing interest?
“Nevada, Eastern Washington, and Lehigh.”
How many offers do you have?
“Three.”
Going back over the last few months, did you get to visit any programs?
“With Ground Zero (7v7) I took three, Miami, Florida Atlantic, and Arizona State.”
How did the ASU visit go?
“It was good. That was the day I got my first offer. I saw the campus and their field on that visit.”
And the Miami visit, how did that go?
“It was good, and it was really humid (laughs). We saw their facilities and the field. We saw all the legends that have played at Miami, guys like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis.”
They’ve certainly had a lot of legends there. Once things open back up, are you planning on taking any visits?
“I was going to take a Boise State visit before this happened.”
Might you compete at any college camps this summer?
“Oh yes. I plan on going to a Redlands camp (satellite), a USC camp, an Azusa Pacific camp, and a UCLA camp.”
Last question. I want to follow up on you running track. Which events were you running before the season was cancelled?
“My events in track were the 100, the anchor on the 4×1, and the 200.”
Tristyn, thank you for your time today and good luck with your workouts this spring until we talk again.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Flores family; Tristyn Flores at Arizona State