Alumnus achievement: T.Y. Hilton named NFL’s receiving champion

Peter Holland Jr. // Staff Writer

With six catches for 96 yards and a victory over division rival Jacksonville Jaguars, former FIU football star T.Y. Hilton was crowned NFL’s top wide receiver in the peak of his career with the Indianapolis Colts.

Hilton finished the season with 91 catches, a career-high 1,448 receiving yards and six touchdowns. With the NFL loaded with elite superstars in Hilton’s position, His receiving yard numbers beat out  Julio Jones from the Atlanta Falcons (1,409), Odell Beckham from the New York Giants (1,367), Mike Evans from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1,321) and Antonio Brown from the Pittsburgh Steelers (1,284).

In his fifth season, Hilton, also known as “The Ghost”, joins some of the former Colts great such as Reggie Wayne (2007), and Marvin Harrison (2002  and 1999) as the only colts player to be know as a receiving champ.

“If I lead the league, I lead it, I’ll be happy,” Hilton said to Colts.com after the win against the Jaguars. “Just to be at the top of those great receivers would be a milestone. I’m just happy we got the win.”

With the Colts finishing the season 8-8 and missing the playoffs this year, Hilton feels confident in making back to the postseason.

“Tough times don’t last, tough people do. And Colts nation, I can assure you that we will be back to our winning ways,” he tweeted to his fans.

Hilton played three years for FIU (2008-2011). Coming out of Miami Springs High School, where he was only ranked two stars when being recruited, Hilton would go on and set school records for the Panthers in career receptions (229), receiving yards (3,531), and receiving touchdowns (24).

Along with being the receiving champ, Hilton was selected to play in his third consecutive Pro Bowl game, which will be in Orlando this year on Jan.29 at Camping World Stadium.