MIAMI – As FIU football continues its 25 Moments in 25 Seasons chronological timeline in celebration of the program's upcoming 25th season in 2026, the latest moment honors a landmark achievement as Antwan Barnes and Chandler Williams became the first players in program history selected in the NFL Draft.
SPECIAL TALENTS
Both Barnes and Williams enjoyed outstanding careers as Panthers, making instant impacts from the moment they stepped on campus in the '305'. Barnes and Williams were very familiar with one another even before taking their talents to the FIU Football Stadium as standout products from Miami high schools, Norland (Barnes) and Senior (Williams).
Barnes, who played both as a standup linebacker and defensive end as a Panther, closed his career as one of FIU's most decorated players in program history. He finished his time at FIU with 21.5 sacks and 57.5 tackles for loss, both of which are program records he maintains to this day. Barnes appeared in 45 total games for FIU as a true 'game wrecker', adding six forced fumbles, three blocked kicks, two interception and seven passes defended to his career accolades.
Williams, a speedy wide receiver with an affinity for making big plays, racked up 2,519 yards on 203 catches in his career, averaging 12.4 yards per reception. His 2,519 career yards rank third all-time at FIU while his 203 catches overall are second-most all-time. Williams played in a total of 41 games and scored eight touchdowns with long receptions of 45+ yards in all four of his seasons in Blue & Gold.
Both Barnes and Williams were two-time All-Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Performers as Barnes was named a First Team Defensive End in both 2005 and 2006 while Williams was named a Second Team Wide Receiver in both 2005 and 2006.
A PERFORMANCE FOR THE AGES
Both Barnes and Williams continued their history making as they earned invitations to the 2007 NFL Combine, FIU's first-ever players to do so.
Barnes' performance in Indianapolis was the type that would have gone 'viral' in 2026. At nearly 250 pounds, he ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and put up 31 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. Barnes received an overall athleticism score of 83, second-best among all combine linebackers. His day at the combine along with his illustrious career as a Panther garnered heavy interest from nearly every NFL team.
ETCHED IN PROGRAM HISTORY
As both players continued to generate looks from NFL scouts, the two days of the 2007 NFL Draft arrived on April 28-29 in at Radio City Music Hall in New York, N.Y.
Early on Day Two, Barnes became the first Panther to ever hear his name called at the NFL Draft, selected by the Baltimore Ravens in fourth round, Pick 134. A few rounds later, Williams was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round with Pick No. 233.
NFL LEGACY
Barnes went on to carve out a seven-year career in the NFL, spending time with the Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers and New York Jets. Barnes earned his first NFL sack on Dec. 3, 2007 against the New England Patriots, sacking future six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady. His best season came with the Chargers in 2011 when he had 11.0 sacks and 41 tackles, adding six tackles for loss. Barnes finished his NFL career with 25.5 total sacks, 25 tackles for loss and 121 total tackles, playing 88 games.
Williams spent four seasons in the NFL as a practice squad member of the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs. He then went on to play for the Toronto Argonauts (CFL) and the Tampa Bay Storm (AFL) before he passed away tragically in 2013.
25TH SEASON CELEBRATION
The upcoming 2026 season for the Panthers officially marks FIU's 25th season of football competition, dating back to the Panthers' first-ever season in 2002. Over that time period, FIU has qualified for six bowl games, secured six Shula Bowl victories and produced countless NFL players, including Pro Bowlers T.Y Hilton and Jonnu Smith. The program has also seen many legendary coaches and outstanding players pass through the Panther facilities throughout its history, creating a litany of incredible moments experienced by Panther Nation.
Fans can be expected to be taken on a journey back to the inception of the program all the way up to the present day, recognizing the standard set by the first teams and acknowledging how many past Panthers have helped to build on that legacy. All of this will lead up and continue through the 25th official season in 2026, the second under head coach Willie Simmons, following one of the most historic seasons on record in his first year on the sidelines.
As the campaign begins with a variety of content in the coming weeks, visit our one-stop shop for the 25th Season Celebration. In conjunction with this, fans are encouraged to follow along with the many highly-engaging pieces of content recognizing the past that will be released on FIU Football's social media channels, listed below.
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.
