Hilton selected by the Indianapolis Colts

Brandon Wise/Sports Director

brandonwise@fiusm.com

Two months ago, T.Y. Hilton was unable to perform at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis due to a quadricep injury. Now, Hilton will get a chance to play on the fast field turf in Indianapolis eight times a year as the speedy receiver was selected 93rd overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Hilton is the third Panther in the past five years to be drafted.

With the selection, Hilton becomes the highest pick ever to come out of FIU. Before Hilton, the highest ever draft pick to come out of FIU was linebacker Antwan Barnes, who was drafted 134th overall in the fourth round by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2007 NFL draft.

The most recent draftee from FIU was defensive back Anthony Gaitor who was a seventh round selection of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year.

Hilton compiled 3,531 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns as a wide receiver in his career at FIU.

Hilton will join Stanford’s Andrew Luck, who was the number one overall pick of the draft and Coby Fleener, who was the 34th overall pick in the draft, in Indianapolis after they were taken in the first and second rounds respectively.

The Colts traded up to the 29th pick of the third round, where the San Francisco 49ers were set to pick, so that they could take Hilton.