MIAMI — FIU's football program had ten different former players either drafted, signed or invited to be a part of the National Football League (NFL) during the NFL's draft weekend. 

The Panthers had two draftees, three undrafted free agent (UDFA) signees and five players that were invited to rookie mini camps. All ten players that were given NFL opportunities played integral parts in FIU's football program. 

Four of the nine players spent the 2025 season with FIU, Su Agunloye, Johnny Chaney Jr., Kejon Owens and Julius Pierce. The remaining six players were all on the 2024 Panther roster, including NFL draftees Travis Burke and Hezekiah Masses. 

Travis Burke (Drafted, Los Angeles Chargers, Round 4, Pick 117)
Burke, an offensive lineman who spent two seasons with the Blue and Gold, was selected early on Day Three of the NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. During his time at FIU, the South Broward prep made 22 starts at the Offensive Tackle position, allowing just three sacks during his junior campaign with the Panthers. He was also named to the 2024 All-CUSA Preseason Second Team by Phil Steele. 

Burke went on to spend his senior season at Memphis, where he did not allow a sack and earned All-First Team American honors and an invite to the 2026 NFL combine. 

Hezekiah Masses (Drafted, Las Vegas Raiders, Round 5, Pick 175)
Masses, who spent three seasons with FIU as a defensive back, heard his name called in the fifth round by the Las Vegas Raiders on Day Three of the NFL Draft. The Deerfield Beach, Fla.-native started a total of 28 games for the Panthers and registered 14 career pass breakups. He also had 105 career tackles in the '305' and had two fumbles recovered along with two interceptions and a blocked kick. 

Masses earned a spot on the CUSA All-Freshman Team in 2022 while also being named to the 2022 College Football News (CFN) Freshman All-America Team. Additionally, earned Preseason All-CUSA honors from Phil Steele (2023, 2024) and Athlon (2024). 

Masses went on to spend his senior campaign at Cal and had five interceptions, earning First Team All-ACC recognition and Second Team All-American honors from the AP. He was then invited to the 2026 NFL Combine. 

Kejon Owens (UDFA Signee, Minnesota Vikings)
Owens, who produced FIU's best-ever season by a running back in 2025, was quickly signed by the Minnesota Vikings following the conclusion of the NFL Draft on Sunday. The Miami Central prep spent six years with the Panthers and rushed for 2,262 total yards and 22 touchdowns in his career.

He capped his FIU tenure with a historic senior season, rushing for a program record 1,334 yards and 11 touchdowns. Following the 2025 season, Owens was named the CUSA Offensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-CUSA performer. 

Owens participated in the American Bowl and the Reese's Senior Bowl prior to the 2026 NFL Draft. He is the first Panther to sign as a UDFA since Donovan Manuel also signed with the Vikings in 2023. 

Eric Rivers (UDFA Signee, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Rivers, who re-wrote the record books during his two years at FIU as a wide receiver, was scooped up by the Tampa Buccaneers as a UDFA signee on Sunday. As a Panther, Rivers collected 94 catches for 1,542 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, most of which occurred during his breakout junior campaign. 

The Chattanooga, Tenn.-native earned First Team All-CUSA honors and Third Team All-America honors after racking up 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns his junior year. His most impressive performance came against New Mexico State when he amassed a school-record 295 receiving yards and three touchdowns on Oct. 29, 2024. 

He went on to play his final season at Georgia Tech and had 46 catches for 658 yards and two touchdowns. Rivers earned an invite to the 2026 NFL Combine. 

Eddie Walls III (UDFA Signee, Los Angeles Rams)
Walls III, who spent the 2024 season with FIU, signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent on Sunday. The Fort Myers, Fla.-native collected 5.0 sacks and 30 tackles as a Panther. 

He went on to spend his senior season at Houston, racking up 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Walls III was named Second Team All-Big 12 for the Cougars.

Julius Pierce (Rookie Mini Camp, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs) 
Pierce, who spent four total seasons at FIU, was invited by the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs to their rookie mini camps. As a Panther, the Sanford, Fla.-native started in all 13 games in his senior season and became the first FIU offensive lineman to earn CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week. 

In total, he played in 34 career games at FIU. Following his senior campaign which ended in FIU's first bowl appearance since 2019, Pierce was named Second Team All-CUSA. 

Olasunkonmi Agunloye (Rookie Mini Camp, Baltimore Ravens)
Agunloye, who enjoyed a standout senior season as a Panther, received an invite from the Baltimore Ravens to their rookie mini camp. The Lindenhurst, N.J.-native started in all 12 games in 2025 and finished with 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks as an interior defensive lineman. 

Dean Patterson (Rookie Mini Camp, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Patterson, who spent four seasons at FIU, was invited by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their rookie mini camp, joining his teammate from the 2024 team, Rivers, in Tampa. The Lutz, Fla.-native had 1,406 receiving yards in his FIU career and eight touchdowns overall. He scored seven touchdowns in his final season as a Panther and was named Second Team All-CUSA. 

Patterson spent his final year of eligibility at Georgia Tech, collecting eight catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns. 

Johnny Chaney Jr. (Rookie Mini Camp, New Orleans Saints)
Chaney Jr. delivered a standout season for FIU as a senior and was invited by the New Orleans Saints to their rookie mini camp. The Apopka, Fla.-native started in all 13 games for the Panthers in his lone season in the '305' and had a team-high 107 total tackles. 

Chaney was named First Team All-CUSA for his performance and had three games with 10+ tackles on the season. His 69 solo tackles ranked fourth-most in the nation. 

Shomari Lawrence (Rookie Mini Camp, Las Vegas Raiders)
Lawrence, who enjoyed two seasons at FIU, was invited to rookie mini camp by the Las Vegas Raiders. The Pompano Beach, Fla.-native rushed for 743 yards and had five touchdowns in his two years as a Panther. 

He went on to play at Missouri State for his final season, rushing for 1,021 yards and seven touchdowns. Following the season, Lawrence was named a Second Team All-CUSA performer. 

SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU.Football on Instagram and @FIUFootball on Twitter and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.