USF’s Perry, Hawthorne land with NFL teams after draft
The New York Giants announced they will be signing Bulls offensive tackle RJ Perry as an undrafted free agent on Sunday.
The signing comes a day after the NFL draft concluded, which saw no USF players selected for the seventh consecutive year.
Undrafted free agents sign three-year deals that pay $840,000 annually, which is the league minimum in 2025.
Related: NFL draft prospects from USF to watch out for
Perry started all 12 games last season and was the anchor behind a prolific running attack. USF’s 190.6 rushing yards per game ranked 28th in the nation and its 34 touchdowns were the second most in program history.
The 23-year-old offensive tackle spent three years at Tennessee under then-Volunteers offensive coordinator Alex Golesh. Perry transferred to USF in 2023 after Golesh was hired as the Bulls’ head coach.
It’s the second straight year a USF offensive lineman signed with an NFL team. Last year, Donovan Jennings landed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. The Packers signed him to their practice squad last August.
Bulls defensive tackle Decarius Hawthorne also received an invite to the Buffalo Bills’ rookie minicamp on Monday.
Related: USF football hosts annual spring game
Minicamps are three-day events meant to evaluate rookie talent and potential. It’s the NFL equivalent of a tryout, as successful prospects could earn an invite to a team’s training camp in July to make the 53-man roster.
Hawthorne was a Second Team All-AAC selection in his lone season with the Bulls. He recorded 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season.
He transferred to USF in 2024 after playing in 34 games at FAU.
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