MIAMI — FIU's athletic department announced its Student-Athletes of the Year and Team of the Year, recognizing football's Kejon Owens, women's basketball's Rhema Collins and the indoor volleyball program.
Owens, who produced the best single running back season in FIU history, was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Collins, the Conference USA (CUSA) Player of the Year, earned Female Student-Athlete of the Year honors. Indoor volleyball earned Team of the Year following its first appearance in the CUSA Championship match since 2018.
Owens was tabbed the CUSA Offensive Player of the Year, the first FIU player to do so in the CUSA era (since 2013). In the regular season, KJ' racked up a school-record 1,298 yards on the ground, seventh-most nationally. He also found the end zone 11 times, third-most in school history, and averaged 6.33 yards per carry, rushing for 100-plus yards in five games. The Miami Central prep was named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week twice following standout performances in wins over Fla. Atlantic and Western Kentucky. Owens closed his career with 2,262 rushing yards, second-most all-time, and 22 rushing touchdowns, third-most all-time.
Collins also made FIU history as the program's first-ever CUSA Player of the Year as the Panthers earned the two-seed in the CUSA postseason tournament. Along with her Player of the Year accolade, she was also awarded Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-CUSA and a spot on the All-CUSA Defensive Team. Collins scored in double-digits 21 times and had 13 double-doubles, leading CUSA in that category. She posted her top performance of the season in a 40-point outburst against Georgia State, the program's first 40-point game since the 2017 season.
Indoor volleyball earned the distinction as the Team of the Year following a historic season in 2025. The Panthers had their best season since 2011 with 18 wins overall and 12 wins in CUSA play. FIU earned the fourth-seed in the CUSA Tournament and had a 10-match win streak in CUSA play, both of which are program-bests in the CUSA era. Additionally, the program earned seven All-CUSA honors, highlighted by Libero of the Year Mandi Morioka and Newcomer of the Year Magda Stambrowska.
