National Champion QB Jared Bernhardt & All-American Bri Rogers Named 2022 Dean Davenport "Bulldogs Of The Year"

Note: This is the last of the four major FSU Athletics Awards presented for the 2021-22 campaign.

Big Rapids, Mich. - A pair of Ferris State University standout student-athletes who led their respective squads to championship success this past year have been named recipients of the Dean Davenport "Bulldog of the Year" Award for the 2021-22 athletics season as senior women's soccer All-American Bri Rogers (Livonia) and senior national champion football quarterback Jared Bernhardt (Lake Brantley, Fla.) claimed the prestigious honor.

They were selected in voting conducted by the Bulldog head coaches and selected FSU Athletics Department staff members.

Both individuals were recognized as the school's top female and male student-athletes, respectively, for their accomplishments this past season. In 2021-22, both student-athletes earned All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) accolades and were consensus all-region honorees among their many other accomplishments.

"We're thrilled to honor Jared Bernhardt and Bri Rogers as our 2021-22 Dean Davenport Bulldog of the Year Award recipients," said FSU Athletics Director Steve Brockelbank. "Both are extremely deserving of this outstanding recognition and led their respective teams to championship seasons this past year. We had an outstanding group of nominees overall."

The Dean Davenport "Bulldog of the Year" Award, which was reinstated in the 2002-03 season following a seven-year absence, is presented annually to the most outstanding Ferris State male and female student-athlete. Award criteria consists of strong athletic achievements (must be a letterwinner and achieve outstanding athletic accomplishment), strong individual character and leadership achievement.

The award was renamed in honor of former Ferris State Athletics Director Dean Davenport, who served in the position from 1979-93. During his tenure at Ferris, Davenport was instrumental in the planning of the FSU Sports Complex, the growth of women's intercollegiate athletics, the emergence of Ferris' NCAA Division I men's ice hockey program and the development of the athletics scholarship program. He also led the athletics department to 14 consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) President's Cup Championships. Davenport also played a key role in helping found many of the department's key major annual awards.

Bernhardt's selection marks the 17th time a Bulldog Football student-athlete has been honored as a winner of the Dean Davenport "Bulldog of the Year" Award. Meanwhile, Rogers is the second-ever women's soccer player in school history to claim the distinction.

The other student-athlete nominee finalists for the 2021-22 Dean Davenport Bulldog of the Year Award were Walt Kelser (Men's Basketball) along with Paige Kortz (softball), Adrienne Anderson (women's basketball) and Katie O'Connell (volleyball).

Rogers concluded her Bulldog career as one of the top performers in program history and was honored as the 2022 recipient of the GLIAC's prestigious Pat Riepma Post Graduate Scholarship along with recently being named a NCAA Women of the Year award candidate. She capped off her standout soccer career at Ferris State by becoming the second Bulldog in program history to earn All-America honors. Last fall, Rogers totaled 10 goals and two assists, helping lead FSU to a 15-3-4 overall record, which included a second-place 9-2-4 conference mark. The Bulldogs also captured the program's first-ever GLIAC Tournament Championship, stopping Grand Valley State's 14-year title streak, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for only the second time in program history.

A three-year team captain, Rogers earned First Team All-GLIAC honors in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 (spring and fall). She finished her career with 28 goals scored. A United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American (2019, 2021), a United Soccer Coaches Player of Distinction (2021) and a two-time GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient, Rogers is currently enrolled in the Ferris State College of Pharmacy, where she is developing novel anticancer drug targets. In 2021, she received FSU's prestigious William Bouyer Award for Leadership. Rogers served as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee for two years and was a member of the organization for four years. She has also been a member of the College of Pharmacy Dean's Advisory Board and the Lambda Kappa Sigma Professional Sorority.

Rogers wrapped up a stellar collegiate career by being named to two All-America teams last season, becoming only the second All-America choice in the history of Bulldog Soccer. She was tabbed to both the United Soccer Coaches All-America and Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-America Third Teams as announced by the respective organizations. Additionally, she was chosen as a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American for FSU for the second time. During Rogers' Bulldog career, Ferris State made its first two NCAA Tournament appearances in program history and also captured both the program's first GLIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships over her time in the program.

"Bri is an outstanding person and will go down as perhaps the best women's soccer player in Bulldog history," said FSU head coach Greg Henson. "She was a tremendous leader for our program and one that will be greatly missed. Her awards and honors speak for themseleves and we're excited she's capped off her career by being chosen to receive this honor."

Meanwhile, Bernhardt made the most of his lone season as a Bulldog, leading FSU to the program's first NCAA Division II National Championship and a perfect 14-0 record last fall. The Bulldog senior standout left a strong impression in his lone season of collegiate football following an outstanding four-year career as one of the nation's top lacrosse players at the University of Maryland, where he won the Tewaaraton Award as the country's top performer in the spring of 2021. He signed a priority free agent contract with the National Football League's (NFL) Atlanta Falcons and is currently competing for a roster spot at preseason training camp opens.

Last fall, Bernhardt ran for a team-high 1,421 yards on 159 attempts, ranking as one of the nation's leading rushers while scoring 26 touchdowns during FSU's national championship campaign. Additionally, he completed 87-of-123 (70.7%) throws for 1,322 yards and 11 scores en route to earning GLIAC Player of the Year accolades.

Bernhardt ranked as one of the nation's top playmakers for the Bulldogs and guided Ferris State to the school's third consecutive GLIAC Championship prior to one of the most dominant playoff runs in NCAA Division II history. He was chosen as the GLIAC Player of the Week five times last fall and also garnered D2Football.com National Player of the Week laurels after accounting for seven touchdowns in his Ferris State debut. His play helped the Bulldogs lead the nation this past season in both scoring offense and total offense.

"Jared was the ultimate competitor and made a huge mark on Bulldog Football," said FSU head coach Tony Annese. "He's deserving of the recognition and did an outstanding job of leading by example last fall. He was a spectacular performer on the field and an even better person off the field."

The selections of the Dean Davenport "Bulldogs of the Year" wrap up the postseason awards for FSU. Last week, the Bulldogs announced the selections of longtime friends and supporter Dr. Fred and Diane Guenther as the Pete Peterson Pride Award recipient and women's basketball senior Zoe Anderson (Rockford) as the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award recipient. Bulldog Football tailback Marvin Campbell (Detroit) was recognized as the Jimmy Swears Courage Award winner.

Bulldog of the Year Recipients:
2021-22 - Jared Bernhardt (Football) and Bri Rogers (Women's Soccer)
2020-21 - Thomas Hursey (Men's Golf) and Morgan Waller (Women's Tennis)
2019-20 - Austin Edwards (Football), Allyson Cappel (Volleyball) and Katie Etelamaki (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country)
2018-19 - Jayru Campbell (Football) and Allyson Cappel (Volleyball)
2017-18 - Zach Hankins (Men's Basketball) and Allyson Cappel (Volleyball)
2016-17 - Zach Hankins (Men's Basketball) and Stephanie Sikorski (Volleyball)
2015-16 - Jason Vander Laan (Football) and Megan Vander Meer (Volleyball)
2014-15 - Jason Vander Laan (Football) and Samantha Johnson (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2013-14 – CJ Motte (Men's Ice Hockey) and Anna Rudd (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2012-13 – Kyle Bonis (Men's Ice Hockey) and Anna Rudd (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2011-12 – Taylor Nelson (Men's Ice Hockey) and Tina Muir (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2010-11 – Justin Keenan (Men's Basketball) and Tina Muir (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2009-10 – Justin Keenan (Men's Basketball), Eric Lilleboe (Men's Golf), and Tina Muir (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2008-09 – Jake Visser (Football), Mikinzie Stuart (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country)
2007-08 – Jake Visser (Football), Rachel Folcik (Women's Basketball), and Becky Hoffman (Women's Golf)
2006-07 – Mike Klobucher (Football), Rachel Folcik (Women's Basketball), and Kristie Smilanich (Women's Soccer)
2005-06 – Dennis Springs (Men's Basketball), Jenny Irwin (Women's Cross Country and Women's Track & Field)
2004-05 – Carlton Epps (Men's Basketball), Karla Fairbanks (Women's Volleyball)
2003-04 – Derek Fudge (Football), Lucy DeMartin (Women's Basketball)
2002-03 – Chris Kunitz (Men's Ice Hockey), Kathryn Bobbie (Women's Golf)
1995-96 – Bill Love (Football), Theresa Luciow (Softball)
1994-95 – Bill Love (Football), Shelli Gaul (Women's Track & Field)
1993-94 – Ed Philion (Football), Kathy O'Connor (Women's Volleyball & Women's Basketball)
1992-93 – Monty Brown (Football), Jodi Raab (Women's Basketball)
1991-92 – Dan Hutcheson (Wrestling), Monica Ferguson (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
1990-91 – John DePourcq (Men's Ice Hockey), Karen Volkers (Women's Volleyball)
1989-90 – Paul Cochran (Men's Track & Field/Football), Karen Volkers (Women's Volleyball)
1988-89 – Jarvis Walker (Men's Basketball), Penny Bailey (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country)
1987-88 – Dave DenBraber (Football), Patty Theis (Women's Volleyball)
1986-87 – Brad Morris (Wrestling), Patty Theis (Women's Volleyball) and Karen Kramer (Women's Basketball)
1985-86 – Scott Kelly (Baseball), Patty Theis (Women's Volleyball)
1984-85 – Paul Jungck (Wrestling), Sharon Sanders (Women's Volleyball)
1983-84 – Terry Schumacher (Wrestling), Leigh Feenstra (Women's Volleyball)
1982-83 – Bruce Faccio (Football), Monta Ware (Women's Basketball) and Linda Spicer (Women's Volleyball)
1981-82 – Tim Smelser (Wrestling), Vicki Williams (Women's Basketball)
1980-81 – Rick Baillergeon (Men's Basketball), Terri Fraser (Women's Volleyball & Women's Basketball)
1979-80 – David Sall (Football), Roxanne Abramouski (Softball)
1978-79 – Tim Herman (Men's Basketball), Sharon Lipinski (Women's Basketball)