MIAMI (May 1, 2016) – FIU defensive lineman Denzell Perine joined the professional ranks, as he signed an NFL free-agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. 
 
Perine joins fellow Panthers Richard Leonard (Houston Texans), Lars Koht (Seattle Seahawks) and Jeremiah McKinnon (Dallas Cowboys), who signed with the NFL franchises on Saturday.
 
Perine finished his Panther career with 119 total tackles (66 solo) with 22 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks (tied for fourth all-time at FIU). During the 2015 season, Perine appeared and started in all 12 games. The Mobile, Alabama native recorded 42 tackles (24 solo) on the year, and was second on the team in both tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (4.5). Perine ranks 13th in sacks and 14th in tackles for loss in C-USA. He also forced two fumbles, while recording two quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. His three pass breakups were a single-season best. Perine notched a tackle for loss in nine games and had four-or-more tackles in seven games. He tied his career-high in tackles (eight) versus Middle Tennessee (Oct. 17) and notched a season-high 2.0 sacks versus N.C. Central (Sept. 19). A game captain versus WKU, Perine was a Preseason Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List last season.
 
Perine becomes the 25th FIU student-athlete to be either drafted or signed by an NFL team.
 
#####
 
For the latest information on Panthers football, follow us on Twitter, @FIUFootball, and check out Pete Pelegrin's in-depth coverage of FIU Athletics on his official blog, The Prowl, at www.FIUSports.com.
 
2016 FIU Football Schedule
Sept. 1          INDIANA
Sept. 9          MARYLAND
Sept. 17         at Massachusetts
Sept. 24         UCF
Oct. 1            FLORIDA ATLANTIC*
Oct. 8            at UTEP
Oct. 15          at Charlotte
Oct. 22          LOUISIANA TECH* (Homecoming)
Oct. 29          MIDDLE TENNESSEE*
Nov. 5           at WKU*
Nov. 19          MARSHALL*
Nov. 26          at Old Dominion*
 
* denotes Conference USA Games
 Home games at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium are capitalized and bolded;
 
For FIU football ticket information, contact the University Credit Union Box Office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 

#####

About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.