Ryan Flournoy

Ryan Flournoy (born October 27, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Central Missouri Mules, Iowa Western Reivers and Southeast Missouri State Redhawks. He was selected by the Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Early life and high school
Flournoy was born on October 27, 1999, and grew up in Hazel Crest, Illinois. He grew up a fan of the Chicago Bears and watched highlights of players such as Gale Sayers and Walter Payton, deciding his goal was to become a National Football League (NFL) player at age five. He first played football when he was five and continued while attending Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois, where he played wide receiver.

At Homewood-Flossmoor, where Flournoy also ran track, he saw limited playing time in his few years before having his best year as a senior, totaling 28 receptions for 480 yards and seven touchdowns. He received little attention as a recruit and enrolled at NCAA Division II school Central Missouri.

College career
Flournoy redshirted his first year at Central Missouri, 2018. He missed the start of his second season due to injury and posted 17 receptions for 170 yards upon returning, while dealing with a partially-torn ACL. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Flournoy transferred to Iowa Western Community College in 2021. With Iowa Western, he was the team's top receiver and totaled 32 receptions for 545 yards and five touchdowns, helping them reach the NJCAA national championship, where Flournoy scored each of the team's touchdowns in their 31–13 loss.

Flournoy had one offer to play NCAA Division I football, from the FCS Southeast Missouri State Redhawks, and transferred there in 2022. He became a top player for the team, becoming captain in his first year and recording 61 catches for 984 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022 while being chosen first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). He returned for a final season in 2023, being named to The Athletic's college football "Freaks List" entering the year. He repeated as a first-team all-conference selection despite missing time due to a broken hand, ending the year with 57 catches for 839 yards and six touchdowns. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State in December 2023 with a degree in general studies. He was invited to the Hula Bowl, the East–West Shrine Bowl, the 2024 Senior Bowl, and to the NFL Scouting Combine. At the Senior Bowl, he was among the only FCS players and was the first Southeast Missouri State player selected since 1998.

Professional career
Flournoy was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (216th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.