Former Georgia State defensive lineman Christo Bilukidi continues to make Panther history as he launches his career in the National Football League.

Last spring, Bilukidi became the first Panther to be drafted by the NFL when he was selected in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

After earning a roster spot with the Raiders, he saw action as a backup defensive tackle in the Raiders' season-opening loss to the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football.

Bilukidi is the first former Georgia State athlete in more than 20 years and just the second ever to play in a regular-season game in one of the four major sports leagues. The only other Panther to do so was basketball player Lanard Copeland, who spent time with the NBA's Philadelphia 76'ers and Los Angeles Clippers, last playing in a regular-season game for the Clippers on Nov. 30, 1991 with a four-minute stint against the Charlotte Hornets.

Bilukidi's teammate last year, linebacker Jake Muasau, signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants but was waived during final cuts.

A third senior from last year's squad, safety Brandon Jones, was actually the first GSU football alumnus to play in a professional game when he appeared in the Arena Football League, playing for the Tampa Bay Storm.

Georgia State actually had an alumnus in professional football long before the school had a football team. Former GSU soccer player Keith Gispert, a standout for the Panthers from 1996-98, was a kicker in the Arena League for the Chicago Rush and Georgia Force from 2003-07.