Panther Legend TY Hilton Elected To FIU Hall Of Fame

Former FIU Football wide receiver and Pro Bowler for the Indianapolis Colts, TY Hilton, has been elected to the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame.

For those unfamiliar, the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame featured its inaugural class in 2006, but has added no new members until now. But beginning with the 2025 class, a new group will be voted in regularly.

“This moment means everything. Football is the game I love,” said Hilton in an FIU press release. “My teammates through my years here are bonds that will be forever kept, and being the first football player inducted to the Hall of Fame at a prestigious college gives the journey a forever meaning.”

The original class consisted of Pat Bradley (FIU Women’s Golf), Mike Lowell (Baseball), Andrea Nagy (Women’s Basketball), Dwight Stewart (Men’s Basketball), and Judy Blucker.

Joining TY Hilton in the 2025 FIU Hall of Fame are Munga Eketebi (Men’s Soccer), Karl Kremser (Men’s Soccer), Tayna Lawrence (Women’s Track), Danny Price (Baseball), and Cindy Russo. (Women’s Basketball)

The Face Of FIU Football

As far as alumni to come out of FIU Football, Hilton has to be the most accomplished in the NFL. Even before his time in the pros, Hilton put up monster stats with the Panthers. In his four seasons, he served as a wide receiver and kick returner. His first collegiate touch as a kick returner in 2008 was a touchdown.

He was dominant enough in his first season at FIU to earn 2008 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors. All in all, Hilton racked up 3,531 receiving yards, 24 touchdowns, 15.4 yards per catch, and 70.6 yards per game as a Panther. He was named First Team All-Sun Belt every season as a student athlete.

His best season at FIU was his junior year. He was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2010. Spearheaded by a career-high 11 total touchdowns, he helped lead the Panthers to their first-ever bowl game win in the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl, defeating Toledo by a score of 34-32.

Hilton also set several school records during his tenure. He’s the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns at FIU. He also holds the single-season and single-game records for receptions.

Lighting It Up In Indy

TY was selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He was one of Andrew Luck’s best targets with the Colts, earning four Pro Bowl selections from 2014 to 2017.

UNDERRATED: Former #Colts WR TY Hilton led the entire #NFL in receiving yards in 2016 ahead of legends Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Odell Beckham Jr., and Mike Evans.

🤯🤯🤯

TY HILTON — EXTREMELY UNDERRATED. pic.twitter.com/sn4sekgxfN

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 20, 2025

In total, Hilton recorded 638 receptions, 9,812 receiving yards, and 53 receiving touchdowns. He also led the NFL in receiving yards in 2016, racking up 1,448 yards.

In 2022, Hilton signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. He played in three games with them.

(Visited 84 times, 1 visits today)