Who is Andrei Iosivas? Princeton track star-turned-WR hoping to hear name called at NFL Draft

David Suggs

•
Who is Andrei Iosivas? Princeton track star-turned-WR hoping to hear name called at NFL Draft image

A hush fell over Lucas Oil Stadium as Andrei Iosivas took his mark. Here, the Princeton wide receiver stood, his NFL dream moments away. All he had to do was run.

Iosivas' journey — from junior varsity afterthought to all-conference stud — is a path less traveled among NFL Draft prospects. But here he was, doing what he always has done; flying down the field.

The Honolulu native is among the fastest talents in this year's class. Much of that has to do with Iosivas' glittering track career, one that helped him rack up medallion after medallion while with the Tigers.

TSN'S NFL DRAFT HQ
Live picks tracker | 7-round mock draft | Top 200 big board

So just who is Andrei Iosivas? The Sporting News details the rise of the former Ivy League standout, one of the most talked-about FCS products to feature in this year's draft field.

Who is Andrei Iosivas?

The golden shores of Honolulu served as the perfect backdrop for Iosivas' burgeoning athletic career: the Punahou School alum starred for the Buff n' Blue, earning first team all-conference honors on the gridiron while also lettering on the track and basketball teams. His hulking build — 6-3 and 200 pounds with legs cut from oak — certainly didn't hurt matters.

It was Iosivas' athletic prowess, coupled with his classroom proficiency, that brought him onto Princeton's cobbled sidewalks. He joined the track team and quickly established himself as one of NCAA's best heptathletes, thrice earning all-conference honors.

The track starlet refused to let go of his pigskin dreams, however, joining the Tigers' junior varsity football team in an effort to develop his skills. His J.V. exploits were rewarded as a redshirt freshman; Iosivas racked up 18 catches for 263 yards and four touchdowns in 2019, developing a reputation as a deep threat.

His fledgling pursuit of a football career suffered a major blow in 2020. The Ivy League canceled the entire season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iosivas was going to do something he wasn't particularly used to: standing still. 

He came back with a flourish in 2021, however. Iosivas upped his production to 703 yards and a team-leading five touchdowns, commanding further attention as one of the conference's most dangerous players.

After leading the Ivy in catches (66), yards (943) and touchdowns (7), Iosivas thrust himself into draft consideration. It didn't hurt that he continued tearing things up on the track, either; Iosivas recorded the fastest-ever 60-meter run (6.71s) at last year's NCAA Indoor Championships.

MORE: Best FCS, HBCU & small-school players you should know in 2023

At 23 years old, Iosivas is far from the finished article. His progression as a pass-catcher and route-runner, coupled with that all-world footwork off the block, makes him an enticing Day 3 option. The Sporting News' latest seven-round mock draft has Iosivas slated to go No. 259 to the Texans. Expect him to get looks as a potential do-it-all option on special teams.

Iosivas' road from little-known J.V. prospect to NFL draft hopeful was riddled with potholes. But somehow, after five years, its nearing its next stop: an NFL locker room.

Not bad for an unheralded kid out of Honolulu.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.