PREVIEW: Ferris State Faces Rival GVSU In Anchor-Bone Showdown Saturday Night

PREVIEW: Ferris State Faces Rival GVSU In Anchor-Bone Showdown Saturday Night

Ferris State vs. Grand Valley State
Saturday, Oct. 13 - 7 p.m. (ET)
Video:  ESPN3
Radio:  97.3 FM WDEE
Stats:  Click Here
Tickets:  Info | (616) 331-3200
Social Media:  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 
Game Notes (PDF)
Gameday Information
Team Video Center

This Week's Action
The unbeaten and third-ranked Ferris State University football squad faces archrival and second-ranked Grand Valley State in the Anchor-Bone Classic this Saturday (Oct. 13) evening at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale. Kickoff for the West Michigan rivalry game is set for 7 p.m. (ET) with a large crowd expected. 
 
The Matchup
Ferris State is presently 6-0 this year and unbeaten in the GLIAC at 4-0 after a 42-24 win over Michigan Tech in the "Battle At The Ballpark" played at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park last Saturday. Meanwhile, the Lakers are also 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference to date. FSU's current 6-0 start is its best since also winning the first six en route to back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons in 2014 and 2015.
 
Media Coverage
Saturday's game will be carried live on flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network with Rob Bentley and Sandy Gholston calling the play-by-play action. Pregame coverage gets underway on Saturday starting at 6 p.m. (ET) and is accessible online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. The game will be webcasted via ESPN3. For a full listing of links, including live internet stats, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.
 
Ticket Information
FSU fans still needing tickets to the game should call the GVSU Athletic Ticket Office at (616) 331-3200 to purchase tickets in the designated FSU seating sections at Lubbers Stadium. The Bulldogs' designated seating sections at Lubbers Stadium are in sections 119 and 219 of the visitors side. Tickets are $20 and can only be purchased by calling the ticket office directly.

Memorable Bulldog Run
Over the last four plus seasons at Ferris State, the Bulldogs have compiled a 51-7 overall record and claimed two conference championships, posted two unbeaten regular-seasons, captured a regional title and twice reached the national quarterfinals Ferris State has also accumulated two Harlon Hill National Player of the Year trophies, twice had a student-athlete tabbed as the nation's National Scholar-Athlete of the Year and won six postseason games.
 
Preseason Top 10 Team
Ferris State was a consensus top 10 team nationally in virtually every preseason Division II national poll, including as high as #3 by Lindy's Sports and CompughterRatings.com this year. FSU was also picked fourth by the Massey Ratings, seventh by D2Football.com along with eighth by both the AFCA and College Football America. 
 
National Power & State's Best
Now in the seventh season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have become a national power on the Division II level. FSU has posted a 66-14 overall mark in his tenure and the Bulldogs have also posted the best winning percentage of all 21 collegiate programs in the state of Michigan along with the GLIAC since his arrival. Overall, Annese has won 83% of his games as a head coach on the collegiate and prep levels and owns 291 wins to date, which is the most of any current GLIAC member head coach at all levels.
 
Michigan's Best Team
Ferris State was chosen last summer by Hero Sports as the state of Michigan's best college football team, regardless of division. Hero Sports unveiled its top team from every state, regardless of division, and the Bulldogs were chosen tops among the 21 collegiate programs in Michigan. The award is the result of an equation created to level the playing field across all divisions of college football using specialized criteria.
 
The 110th Season
The 2018 campaign represents the Bulldogs' 110th season of varsity competition.  The program actually began in 1900, but no football was played in 1908-09, 1917-18, 1932 and from 1942-45 for various reasons.  Additionally, no scores are available from either the 1912 or 1916 seasons.  Ferris has an all-time mark of 444-443-40.
 
National Semifinal Run
Ferris State posted a 12-3 overall record in 2016 while advancing to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals for only the second time in school history. In 2016, the Bulldogs also posted a school-record tying 12 victories. Ferris State received the program's third-straight NCAA Football Playoff berth and captured the Super Region Four Championship by beating archrival Grand Valley State during a memorable run.
 
Did You Know?
This year marks the third time in the past four years the Bulldogs have been tabbed as one of the country's top three teams in at least one preseason national ranking.
 
The Head Coaches
Ferris State – Tony Annese (Alma, 1983), 7th season, 66-14-0 (.825) – 6-2 vs. GVSU).  Annese recorded a 195-41 (.826) mark as a head coach in four stops at the high school level before totaling a 30-4 (.882) record in three years as the head coach at Grand Rapids Community College.  His overall career mark at all levels is 291-59 (.831) to date and includes three prep state championships and two national JUCO crowns. He won his 50th game at FSU in last year's season opener versus Findlay and it was also his 275th win at all levels overall. 
 
Grand Valley State - Matt Mitchell (Cornell, 1997), 9th season, 83-23 (.783); Career: 9th season, 83-23 (.783) - (4-6-0 vs. Ferris State). Mitchell took over as the seventh head coach in GVSU history in 2010 and was the first Laker coach to win his first eight games. The former Cornell letterwinner was a six-year Laker assistant, including the final two years as defensive coordinator. He previously was an assistant coach at Wartburg (Iowa).
 
Nation's #1 Offense
Presently, the Bulldogs are ranked among the nation's top six teams in several offensive categories this year, including first in total offense (558.2 ypg.) and team passing efficiency (186.42), third in first downs (164), sixth in scoring (44.3 ppg.) and sixth in rushing (299.5 ypg.). Individually, Bulldog junior quarterback Jayru Campbell ranks first in the country in passing efficiency (202.4) along with third in points responsible for (24.0 ppg.) in addition to fourth in total offense (336.5 ypg.). Campbell ranks as the nation's leading rushing quarterback at 101.0 yards per game.
 
The Anchor-Bone Trophy
The Anchor Bone Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of the Ferris State-Grand Valley State football game. The trophy debuted in 2002 and GVSU won the first nine matchups before FSU maintained possession of the trophy four consecutive years from 2012-15. The Lakers reclaimed the trophy in the regular-season in 2016 before the Bulldogs won a thrilling 28-27 decision at Top Taggart Field last year in the NCAA Division II National Game of the Week. GVSU holds a 29-18-1 all-time series' advantage entering Saturday's showdown.
 
National Showdown
Both teams head into Saturday night's contest ranked among the top three teams in the nation and it will represent the 10th time in series' history in which both squads have been ranked in the major D2 national poll at kickoff. Saturday's game will mark the fourth-straight year in which both teams have been ranked among the top 15 nationally at kickoff time and the sixth consecutive time, including postseason games in both 2015 and 2016. Three years ago, when the Bulldogs notched a decisive 61-24 regular-season victory in 2015 in Allendale, it represented the first time both teams had been in the top 15 in 20 years since a 30-21 FSU victory over the Lakers on Sept. 30, 1995, in Big Rapids.
 
More Rankings History
Overall, the two squads have both been found in the national rankings at kickoff time in the regular-season in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2015, 2016 and 2017 along with postseason matchups in both 2015 and 2016. FSU owns a 4-3-1 mark all-time against the Lakers when both squads are nationally-ranked.
 
The Recent Matchups
Ferris State has captured five of the last six regular-season matchups between the two West Michigan rivals. The two teams have both also squared off in the NCAA Division II Playoffs twice in the last three years with GVSU winning in 2015 in Big Rapids before FSU returned the favor with a 47-32 triumph over the Lakers in 2016 in Allendale in the Super Region Four Championship game. Bulldog head coach Tony Annese, a two-time Football Gazette Super Region Coach of the Year, owns an overall 6-2 mark against GVSU in his career.
 
Consensus Top Ten Team In the Country
Ferris State is a consensus top 10 team in the country in every Division II poll this week, including as high as #2 in the D2Football.com along with #3 by the American Football Coaches Association and Massey Online Computer Ratings in addition to #6 by Hero Sports and #8 by CompughterRatings.com. 
 
Best Stretch In School History
Prior to this year, Ferris State's 45 wins in the last four years (2014-17) marked the Bulldogs' best four-year stretch in school history. In addition, the 53 wins in the past five seasons (53-10) from 2013-17 tops the 1992-96 era for the most wins over a five-year span in program history. FSU went 52-8-2 while capturing five-straight Michigan Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC) crowns in that span.
 
Annese vs GVSU
Ferris State had won the first four regular-seson matchups between the two West Michigan rivals under head coach Tony Annese prior to a 35-23 regular-season setback two years ago in Allendale. In his first season at FSU in 2012, Annese guided the Bulldogs to a 40-24 road win at GVSU's Lubbers Stadium, which represented Ferris State's first win over the Lakers in the series since 1999 and snapped a 12-game series' skid. Overall, Annese currently is 6-2 against the Lakers in his Bulldog tenure as Ferris State also recorded wins of 54-44 and 42-17 over GVSU in Big Rapids in 2013 and 2014, respectively, along with a decisive 61-24 regular-season triumph in Allendale in 2015 before a 28-27 home win in 2017. The two teams recently split two playoff games with each winning on the road, including GVSU in 2015 (38-34) and FSU in 2016 (47-32).
 
Strong First Half Presence
While the Bulldog offense ranks as the nation's top unit in total yardage and has grabbed the attention, the FSU defense has also allowed only 3.8 points per game in the first half of contests this year. The Bulldogs have played upwards of 60 players in three different games this year. Overall, Ferris State has outscored the opposition 147-23 in the first half of contests this season and given up less than 10 first half points in all six games, incluidng four games of three points or less allowed in the first two quarters.
 
GLIAC Offensive Player Of Week
Ferris State junior quarterback Jayru Campbell (Detroit) was tabbed as the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this year after last week's "Battle At The Ballpark" victory. The nation's leader in passing efficiency, Campbell completed 20-of-24 throws for 291 yards and three scores while adding 33 yards rushing on 12 attempts with another score. All told, he accounted for more than 300 yards of total offense and four scores as the Bulldogs rolled up 616 yards of total offense. Ferris State jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, led 28-0 at halftime and held a 42-7 edge at the end of three. Campbell did not play in the final quarter for FSU. He also earned the honor after the Bulldogs' week two win over Findlay this year and the homecoming victory over Ashland two weeks ago.
 
Five Touchdown Quarterbacks
With his performance against Findlay this year, FSU QB Jayru Campbell became the fifth different starting quarterback under head coach Tony Annese at Ferris State to account for five touchdowns or more in a single game. Every QB who has started a game at FSU under Annese's direction now has a five TD game. Campbell accomplished the feat again at Northern Michigan with five TD's.
 
GLIAC Player Of The Week
Ferris State junior defensive back DeShaun Thrower (Muskegon) was recognized as the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week after the 49-17 season-opening home win over East Stroudsburg (Aug. 30). A two-sport standout, Thrower made his first career start and scored on a 51-yard fumble recovery return in the game for his first career touchdown while also adding an interception that he returned for 45 yards. He finished with four tackles and helped the FSU defense limit the Warriors to less than 300 total yards and only 37 yards rushing on 30 carries. Previously, last year Thrower was recognized as the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
National Game Of The Week
The Bulldogs' homecoming tilt against league rival Ashland was televised via ESPN3 and the ESPN app across the country as part of the NCAA Division II National TV Showcase "Game of the Week". This year marked the fourth consecutive year in which the Bulldogs have participated in the Division II National Showcase and the fourth-straight year in which a FSU home contest has been featured. It marked the third consecutive year in which FSU's outing against Ashland was the D2 National Game of the Week.
 
Among Best In Country
Since the start of the 2014 season, the Bulldogs are close behind defending national champion Northwest Missouri State for the fewest losses of any NCAA Division II team in the country. The Bearcats had only five losses in the past four seasons. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs recorded back-to-back 11-1 seasons in 2014 and 2015 before a 12-3 mark in 2016 followed by an 11-2 showing in 2017. Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all 21 collegiate programs in Michigan at 66-14 overall since the arrival of head coach Tony Annese in 2012.
 
Huge Playoff Victory
FSU's 2016 road victory in its national playoff quarterfinal game against Grand Valley State came in only the second-ever postseason matchup between the two longtime West Michigan rivals, but it was also the second year in a row as FSU avenged a 38-34 victory in round two in 2015 at home. The victory over the Lakers in the 2016 D2 Playoffs also gave the Bulldogs their first-ever postseason road win as Ferris State had been 0-3 on the road in the playoffs all-time. Ferris State won another playoff road game last year in round two at top-seeded Fort Hays State (Kan.). Prior to the '15 and '16 matchups, FSU and GVSU had not both competed in the playoffs in the same year since 1994. The Bulldogs' 2016 playoff visit to GVSU's Lubbers Stadium marked the Bulldogs' first postseason road game since Dec. 2, 1995, when FSU fell at North Alabama 45-7 in the national semifinals.
 
National Champion DB
Bulldog senior defensive back DeShaun Thrower (Muskegon) already owns one national championship. Last year, the two-sport athlete helped the FSU men's basketball squad to its first national championship in his initial season on the floor as a key contributor as the Bulldogs posted a historic 38-1 campaign. Thrower also saw action on the gridiron a year ago as a reserve and on special teams. He had a huge day in a home win over Wayne State, blocking two punts to earn the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week distinction.
 
Nation's Top Rushing QB
FSU junior QB Jayru Campbell presently leads all QB's in the country in rushing (101 ypg). The Bulldogs have had the nation's leading rushing quarterback in D2 football five of the past six years. In 2016, former quarterback Reggie Bell's 1,081 yards on the ground in the regular-season were the most of any QB in the country. Previously, two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winning QB Jason Vander Laan led all quarterbacks in rushing in D2 football each of his four years from 2012-15.
 
Among The Best In The Nation
The Bulldogs began their 110th season of varsity competition this fall with their sights set on making a fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. FSU has made back-to-back NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal appearances and is one of only five teams in all of college football to win at least 11 games each of the past four years. The Bulldogs along with Northwest Missouri State are the only programs in Division II football to make the playoffs each of the past four seasons.
 
Latest Home Game Ever
The Bulldogs closed the 2017 season at home against Harding (Ark.) in the NCAA National Quarterfinals at Top Taggart Field, falling 16-14 on a game-ending field goal by the Bisons. The game represented the first-ever home football playoff game in the month of December and the latest home game ever for FSU. The Bulldogs also hosted quarterfinal-round playoff action in 1994, 1995 and 1996, but those games were played in late November in a smaller playoff format. 
 
NCAA Playoff Berth
Last year marked Ferris State's ninth all-time NCAA Division II Playoff appearance and the school's fourth in a row after previously not making the field since 1996 prior to the 2014 season. Overall, FSU has now compiled a 11-9 all-time playoff record. In 2016, the Bulldogs reached the natioanl semifinals for the first time since 1995, matching the highest finish in school history. Along with making the playoffs in both 2014 and 2015, the Bulldogs also captured back-to-back GLIAC Championships. Before those two years, FSU had not won a league title since 1999. The 2014 outright title was the school's first since 1996. Overall, 2015 represented the ninth conference title in Bulldog football history.
 
Nation's Winningest Active Coach
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese currently ranks as NCAA Division II's winningest active head coach, based on a minimum of three seasons, with a 66-14 (.825) overall record in seven years. His current mark tops Colorado State-Pueblo head coach John Wristen, who is in second with a 101-25 (.802) mark according to the NCAA.
 
Big Win Season
Last year marked only the sixth time in school history in which the Bulldogs had won at least 11 games in a campaign, but also the fourth year in a row. In 2016, FSU matched the school-record of 12 wins set in 1995 (12-1) and the Bulldogs also notched 11 wins in 1994 (11-1), 2014 (11-1) and 2015 (11-1). The past four seasons, 2014-17, represent the first time in which the Bulldogs have notched at least 11 wins four years in a row. 
 
Home Of College Football's Greatest Rushing QB
Former FSU signal caller Jason Vander Laan, who is currently with the Carolina Panthers as a tight end, finished his Bulldog Football career from 2012-15 with 5,953 career rushing yards, becoming the all-time record holder for most rushing yards by any QB at any level. He topped the previous career record of 5,128 yards held by Wofford's Shawn Graves from 1989-92.  Vander Laan eventually finished as a two-time recipient of the Harlon Hill Trophy presented to Division II's top player, becoming the first GLIAC player to ever win the award twice. He also was the first player in NCAA history at any level to both rush and pass for 1,000 yards for four consecutive seasons.
 
Anchor-Bone Victory
Ferris State kept its NCAA Playoff hopes and league title aspirations alive last year with a thrilling 28-27 comeback victory over archrival Grand Valley State in the Anchor-Bone Classic on Oct. 21 at FSU's Top Taggart Field. The Bulldogs trailed 14-3 at halftime, but scored with 15 seconds remaining to earn the win before a crowd of nearly 8,000 fans in Big Rapids. It represented the ninth time in series' history in which both FSU and GVSU were ranked in the major D2 national poll (AFCA) at kickoff. It was also the third-straight year in which both teams had been ranked among the top 15 nationally at kickoff time and the fifth consecutive time, including postseason games. The Bulldogs have now won six of the eight series' matchups against the Lakers in the six seasons under head coach Tony Annese. The two teams square off again this season on Oct. 13 at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale.
 
All-Conference Recognition
A total of 18 Ferris State football players received All-GLIAC recognition last and the Bulldogs brought home two major awards as the league unveiled its 2017 all-conference teams. In the all-conference voting conducted by the league's head coaches, Ferris State defensive end Zach Sieler (Pickney) claimed the league's "Defensive Lineman of the Year" honor for the second consecutive campaign. In addition, cornerback Tavierre Thomas (Detroit/Allen) was tabbed as the GLIAC's "Defensive Back Of The Year". Overall, Ferris State placed seven student-athletes on the All-GLIAC First Team with five others earning All-GLIAC Second Team status and six attaining honorable mention recognition. Both Sieler and Thomas are currently with NFL organizations.
 
The All-GLIAC List
On the All-GLIAC First Team a year ago, Ferris State was represented by offensive tackle Devon Johnson, receiver Malik Taylor and offensive guard Nic Sawyer. All three return in 2018. They were joined on the defensive side by DT Zach Sieler along with cornerback Tavierre Thomas, defensive tackle Chris Okoye and linebacker Terrell Porter.
 
FSU's five second-team selections included wideout Kenyondre Craig, center Jake Daugherty, cornerback Jevonte Alexader, defensive back Jaleel Canty and kicker Wyatt Ford.
 
Finally, the list of Bulldog honorable mention all-league choices consisted of tailback Jahaan Brown, defensive ends Dylan Roney and Marquis Dawsey, defensive backs KC Zenner and Kenny James and linebacker Nick Huckabay.
 
Preseason All-Americans
Senior offensive lineman Devon Johnson has been a consensus Preseason All-America choice this year by every outlet for the Bulldogs while fellow senior lineman Nic Sawyer has also garnered multiple recognition on various NCAA Division II Preseason All-America squads. FSU returns four starters on the offensive line this year.
 
Highest AFCA National Ranking
FSU's #2 national ranking in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Rankings early last year prior to its regular-season loss at Ashland matched its second-place standing late in the 2015 regular season for the Bulldogs' highest ranking ever in the history of the coaches' poll that dates back to 2000. FSU was ranked as high as 1st nationally in 2015 by D2Football.com along with the Division II Power Rankings, but has never been #1 in the coaches poll. 
 
Long Win Streak 
With a week three victory in 2016 on the final play of the game at Northwood, Ferris State set a school record with its 28th-straight regular season win dating back to the 2013 season before it was snapped against Ashland the following week. FSU previously won 27 consecutive regular-season outings in a row from Oct. 23, 1993 to Sept. 14, 1996. The Bulldogs' 28-game regular season win streak was the longest in the country prior to being snapped.
 
A Winning Season 
Ferris State officially clinched its 12th winning season in the last 15 years a year ago. FSU has now finished with a winning season 20 times in the last 28 campaigns, including 15 times in the last 22 years. The Bulldogs won five consecutive conference championship titles from 1992-96 and were league co-champions in 1999 prior to back-to-back conference crowns in 2014 and 2015. 
 
Deepest Postseason Run
Ferris State had its deepest NCAA Playoff run in 21 years in 2016 since reaching the NCAA Division II National Semifinals in 1995, which had represented the highest finish in school history. The Bulldogs also made the postseason in 1996 along with 2014 and 2015, but did not make it past the second round. Before the last two seasons, the only other time FSU played in the final month of the year took place on Dec. 2,1995, when FSU fell 45-7 in the national semfinals on the road at North Alabama.
 
Home Field Edge
Last year not only represented the Bulldogs' fourth-straight NCAA Playoff appearance, but it was also the fourth year in a row in which FSU played host to at least one playoff game at Top Taggart Field. In 2014, the Bulldogs hosted a playoff game for the first time in 18 years, falling to league rival Ohio Dominican 46-33 while making their first postseason berth since 1996. In 2015, FSU topped Texas A&M Commerce 48-30 in the first round at home before suffering a 38-34 setback to GLIAC rival Grand Valley State in the second round at Top Taggart Field. In 2016, FSU beat Midwestern State (65-34) and Colorado Mines (38-17) in the first rwo rounds before topping rival Grand Valley State on the road (47-32) prior to a national semifinal setback at NW Missouri State (35-20). 
 
NCAA Playoff Road Win
Last year, the Bulldogs knocked off top-seeded Fort Hays State (Kan.) in round two of the 2017 NCAA Division II Playoffs in Hays, Kan. FSU totaled 460 yards of total offense and jumped out to a 31-7 lead in the 31-21 victory. Ferris State took a 10-0 halftime lead after allowing only six yards rushing in the first half. 
 
GLIAC Preseason Poll
The Bulldogs were picked again to finish near the top of the league as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) unveiled its 2018 GLIAC Football Preseason Poll with the Bulldogs second overall. Ferris State picked up 56 total points and two first-place votes to rank second just behind archrival Grand Valley State. The Lakers were first with 61 points and six top votes. The two squads were followed by Ashland in third place (54 points and one vote). Three teams were tied for fourth place overall.
 
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Ferris State junior quarterback Travis Russell (Grand Rapids/West Catholic) was chosen as one of the nominees for the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in college football. The list of 169 nominees was announced by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Russell played in all 13 games last fall and is a two-time GLIAC All-Academic Team selection. Last year, former teammate and three-time All-America center Jake Daugherty (Big Rapids) was eventually chosen as one of the members of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and invited to be honored at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
 
Live National TV Again
This year represented the fourth consecutive year in which the Bulldogs were selected to participate at least once in the NCAA's Division II Game of the Week package. In both 2015 and 2016, the Bulldogs hosted a Division II National Game of the Week on the American Sports Network. Last year, ESPN3 carried the Bulldogs' regular-season road tilt at Ashland and home game against rival Grand Valley State as part of the national game of the week package. In addition, FSU's 2017 national quarterfinal home game versus Harding was also picked up live by ESPN3.
 
Strong Defensive Showing
The Bulldogs finished the 2017 regular-season as the GLIAC's number one ranked defensive unit. Over the last 12 quarters of action in the regular-season, the unit allowed scores in only two quarters of action, which included a 26-0 road shutout over Davenport (Nov. 4) at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex in Caledonia. Ferris State gave up only 156 total yards to Davenport, including 73 on the ground, while recording its first shutout since a season-opening 41-0 home win over Ohio Dominican to start the 2016 season. It was only the third shutout for the Bulldogs since 2008. In the regular-season finale (Nov. 11), FSU closed the regular-season by allowing only 145 yards to Michigan Tech with the Huskies netting only 51 total rushing yards in the Bulldogs' 49-7 triumph.
 
Seven Bulldogs In The NFL
A total of seven different Bulldog Football alums took part in training camp this summer with National Football League (NFL) organizations, which are the most in school history. The Bulldogs' NFL standouts include former two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jason Vander Laan (Carolina Panthers), wide receiver Jake Lampman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), linebacker Brady Sheldon (Cleveland Browns), defensive tackle Justin Zimmer (Atlanta Falcons), defensive tackle Chris Okoye (Cincinnati Bengals), cornerback Tavierre Thomas (Arizona Cardinals) and defensive end Zach Sieler (Baltimore Ravens). Sieler and Zimmer both made their respective 53-man rosters while Thomas was picked up by the Browns as part of their 53-man team. Both Vander Laan and Sheldon were signed to practice squads with Okoye and Lampman placed on injured reserve. Two seasons ago, Lampman became the first FSU player in 13 years to play on football's biggest stage in regular-season action while he was with the New Orleans Saints while both Vander Laan (Indianapolis Colts) and Sheldon (Oakland Raiders) were called up to the active roster with their respective organizations at the time late last fall. In late April, Sieler became Ferris State's first-ever NFL Draft choice when he was picked in the seventh round as the 238th overall selection by the Ravens. 
 
NFF National Hampshire Honor Society Selections 
For the fourth consecutive year, Ferris State ranked as one of the top GLIAC members and in-state NCAA Division I and II schools with nine student-athletes chosen to the 2018 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society for their work both on the field and in the classroom. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football senior players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout in their college career.
 
Follow On Twitter
In addition to radio and internet coverage, Bulldog fans can also follow Saturday's contest with live scoring updates on several official social media platforms.  Visit www.twitter.com/FerrisFootball to follow the tweet-by-tweet coverage with periodic scoring updates or visit www.facebook.com/FerrisFootball.
 
Home Ticket Information
Tickets for Ferris State's next home game on Oct. 27 against Wayne State are currently on sale and can be bought online at www.startickets.com or purchased in person at the FSU Athletics Ticket Office. The ticket office will be open inside the Ewigleben Sports Complex Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) along with extended hours on Wednesday until 7 p.m. (ET).  Fans can save and avoid potential lines by purchasing in advance. For more info, visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.
 
Departed Senior Class
The Bulldogs entered 2018 having to replace a group of 24 seniors from a year ago. Together, the group compiled an impressive 53-9 overall record with four NCAA Division II Playoff appearances and two GLIAC Championships over the past five years. They departed as one of the most successful classes in school history.