FIU’s Jonnu Smith Drafted by the Tennessee Titans

FIU Athletics

PHILADELPHIA (April 28, 2017) – FIU tight end Jonnu Smith has been selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 3rd round (100th pick) of the 2017 NFL Draft. Smith becomes the seventh Panther in FIU history to be selected in the NFL Draft and the first since 2013 (Johnathan Cyprien – second round/pick 33; Tourek Williams – sixth round/pick 179). This past season, Smith appeared and started in 11 games for the Panthers. The native of Ocala, Florida, caught 42 passes for 506 yards and four touchdowns. He became the fifth player in FIU history to register over 2,000 yards receiving during a career (2,001 yards). Smith averaged 12.0 yards-per-catch and 46.0 yards-per-game in 2016. He finished his career registering at least one reception in every game he played (43-straight – second-most in school history). Smith caught the game-winning touchdown pass at Charlotte – his first TD catch of the season. He opened the season with a season-high eight catches for 83 yards versus Indiana (Sept. 1). A Second-Team All-C-USA selection in 2016, Smith was a Preseason First-Team All-Conference USA honoree by Athlon and Phil Steele and was named to the John Mackey Award Watch List. For his career, Smith recorded 178 receptions for 2,001 yards and 18 touchdowns. Among all positions, Smith ranks No. 4 all-time in career receptions, No. 5 in career receiving yards and No. 3 in career receiving touchdowns in the FIU record books. At pick No. 100, Smith's selection is the third-highest in FIU history behind Cyprien (No. 33 in 2013) and T.Y. Hilton (No. 92 in 2012). The NFL Draft will resume on Saturday, April 29, with rounds 4-7.   #####About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Riccardo Silva Stadium.
 About FIU: Florida International University is classified by Carnegie as a "R1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity" and recognized as a Carnegie Community Engaged university. It is ...

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