Tra Fluellen Bio
Travion “Tra” Fluellen is an American professional football cornerback. Born on March 22, 2001, in Gilmer, Texas, he attended Gilmer High School where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. He played college football for the Houston Baptist Huskies and later the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. After going undrafted in 2024, he signed with the New Orleans Saints, starting his professional career in the National Football League (NFL).
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 209 pounds, Fluellen uses his length and athletic background to compete at the cornerback position. His journey from a small Texas town to the NFL reflects steady development at the college level and a determined push into professional football.
Early Life and Background
Travion Fluellen was born on March 22, 2001, in Gilmer, Texas. He grew up in the same community where he would eventually become a standout high school athlete, attending Gilmer High School in Gilmer, Texas. At Gilmer, he participated in football, basketball, and track, demonstrating the kind of multi-sport athletic base that often benefits defensive backs who rely on speed, footwork, and overall body control.
During his senior year at Gilmer High School, Fluellen recorded 46 receptions for 1,006 yards as a wide receiver, showing his playmaking ability on the offensive side of the ball. Although he would later transition to defense at the college level, those receiving numbers highlighted his hands, route running, and ability to create separation, all of which translate well to coverage responsibilities. His high school career laid the foundation for a college recruitment that would take him to the FCS level before moving up to the FBS ranks.
Path to American Football
Fluellen’s path to American football at the collegiate level began when he enrolled at Houston Baptist University, where he played as a safety from 2019 to 2020. Moving from wide receiver in high school to defensive back in college required an adjustment, but he adapted quickly. In his freshman year of 2019, Fluellen recorded 101 tackles and 2 interceptions, numbers that placed him among the most productive young defenders in his subdivision and earned him a spot on the HERO Sports Freshman All-America First Team.
That same freshman campaign also saw him named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which recognizes the top FCS freshman in the nation. In 2020, he contributed 25 tackles and 1 interception, a shortened season that still showcased his ability to impact the defensive backfield. These early achievements at Houston Baptist set the stage for a transfer to a higher level of competition.
Tra Fluellen Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Fluellen’s first notable stretch of college football came with the Houston Baptist Huskies, where he immediately stepped into a starting role as a true freshman. His 101 tackles in 2019 established him as a tackling machine from the safety position, while his two interceptions hinted at his ball skills. The HERO Sports Freshman All-America First Team selection and his Jerry Rice Award finalist status confirmed that he was one of the most promising young defensive players at the FCS level.
His second season at Houston Baptist in 2020 was condensed, but he still produced 25 tackles and 1 interception, showing consistency despite the unusual circumstances. After two seasons with the Huskies, Fluellen decided to test himself at a higher level, entering the transfer portal in search of a new opportunity.
Middle Tennessee Breakthrough (2021–2023)
In 2021, Fluellen transferred to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where he would play three seasons from 2021 through 2023. Switching conferences and moving up to FBS competition gave him the chance to face stronger competition week in and week out. Over his MTSU career, he accumulated 197 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 14 pass breakups, demonstrating his ability to be a reliable presence in the secondary over an extended stretch.
His senior season was particularly notable. Fluellen landed on the Bronco Nagurski Watch List, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, and the Senior Bowl Watch List, all of which recognize top college defensive backs and defenders. He also earned Honorable Mention All-Conference USA (CUSA) honors, adding to an Honorable Mention All-CUSA selection in 2022 and a Second Team PFF College All-CUSA nod. He served as a permanent team captain in 2023, reflecting the leadership role he had grown into by the end of his college career.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024–Present)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Fluellen signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, beginning his professional football career in the NFL. He signed a reserve/future contract with New Orleans on January 6, 2025, an agreement that signaled the Saints’ continued interest in developing him within their defensive backfield. On June 20, 2025, Fluellen was waived by the Saints, marking a transition point in his young professional career.
Even after being waived, his time with the Saints gave him valuable exposure to NFL-level coaching, practice habits, and schemes. His combination of size, college production, and special teams versatility leaves the door open for future professional opportunities.
Playing Style and Strengths
Fluellen brings an unusual combination of size and athleticism to the cornerback position, listed at 6 feet 2 inches and around 209 pounds. His background as a high school wide receiver gives him strong ball skills and an understanding of how receivers attack defensive backs, while his college production as a tackler shows he is not afraid to support the run. At MTSU, his 197 tackles highlighted a physical, willing defender who can play in the box or in coverage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature achievements, Fluellen was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award as a freshman at Houston Baptist, a rare honor for a first-year player. He later earned All-Conference USA Honorable Mention recognition in back-to-back seasons and was named to the Second Team PFF College All-CUSA. His transition from FCS standout to FBS captain and finally to an NFL roster with the New Orleans Saints represents a clear, step-by-step climb through the levels of American football.
Tra Fluellen Career Achievements
Travion Fluellen’s college résumé includes All-America recognition as a freshman, multiple All-Conference USA selections, and captaincy of an FBS program. His professional career began when he signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2024, followed by a reserve/future contract in January 2025.
Conference USA Highlights
Across three seasons at Middle Tennessee, Fluellen racked up 197 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 14 pass breakups, serving as a permanent team captain in his senior year of 2023. His two Honorable Mention All-Conference USA selections, one in 2022 and one in 2023, along with his Second Team PFF College All-CUSA nod, marked him as one of the more productive defensive backs in the league during that span.
Other Performances
As a freshman at Houston Baptist in 2019, Fluellen posted 101 tackles and 2 interceptions, earned HERO Sports Freshman All-America First Team honors, and finished as a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award. In his shortened 2020 season, he added 25 tackles and 1 interception, further demonstrating his consistency as a young defender.
Tra Fluellen Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Fluellen grew up in Gilmer, Texas, the same community where he attended Gilmer High School. His upbringing in this small East Texas town shaped his work ethic and athletic foundation, supporting his development into a multi-sport high school athlete before he specialized in football at the college level.
Personal Life
Public details about Travion Fluellen’s personal life are limited. He maintains a presence on social media platforms, including an active Twitter account and an Instagram account, where fans can follow his football journey. Beyond his playing career, he continues to be recognized for his dedication to the game and his steady climb through the ranks of American football.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL offseason was an important stretch for Travion Fluellen. He signed a reserve/future contract with the New Orleans Saints on January 6, 2025, securing his place on the team’s offseason roster and giving him the opportunity to compete for a depth role in the secondary. The agreement reflected the Saints’ continued investment in his development after he had joined the team as an undrafted free agent the previous year.
That opportunity came to a halt on June 20, 2025, when the Saints waived Fluellen. The move was part of the routine roster reshuffling that takes place during the offseason, and it placed him back in the market as he looked for his next professional opportunity.
Despite the waiver, Fluellen’s overall trajectory remains a positive one. His college production at Houston Baptist and Middle Tennessee, combined with his NFL experience on the Saints’ offseason roster, leave him well-positioned to pursue another opportunity, whether as a developmental cornerback or a special teams contributor, as the 2025 season progresses.