Career Night From Tavierre Thomas Highlights Bulldogs In The NFL During Week Two
Big Rapids, Mich. - A trio of Ferris State University football alums saw action in week two of the National Football League (NFL) season this past weekend.
Third-year pro Tavierre Thomas made the biggest impact this past week as he earned a start and made a game and personal career-high nine tackles in the Cleveland Browns' nationally-televised 35-30 Thursday night win over Cincinnati.
On Sunday, Bulldog receiver Malik Taylor earned 15 snaps as the Green Bay Packers posted a 42-21 home win over the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
Meanwhile, third-year Bulldog pro Zach Sieler finished with a tackle and garnered 16 snaps in the Miami Dolphins' close 31-28 home setback to the Buffalo Bills.
While he did not see action in Sunday's win after a big performance in week one, Bulldog alum Justin Zimmer of the Buffalo Bills did earn mention this past week as he was one of four players listed as protected on the Bills' practice squad.
Along with the four players who have saw active roster action this fall, rookie defensive end Austin Edwards, who was the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year as a senior last fall for the Bulldogs, is currently on the practice squad with the Atlanta Falcons after being one of the club's final cuts of camp, giving FSU a total of five alums currently in the NFL, which is the most of any NCAA Division II school in the country.
This coming week, in week three action, Sieler and the Dolphins square off against Jacksonville on Thursday (Sept. 24) night at 8:20 p.m. (ET) on the NFL Network. A former Ferris State University assistant coach will be on the opposite sideline as Jason Rebrovich serves as the Jaguars' Defensive Line Coach.
Thomas and the Browns host Washington on Sunday (Sept. 27) at 1 p.m. (ET) with Zimmer and the Bills hosting the Rams at the same time. Finally, Taylor and the Packers visit New Orleans on Sunday evening for an 8:20 p.m. (ET) kick on NBC.
Along with the five Bulldogs who remain with NFL organizations at this time, they were joined in camp by linebacker Brady Sheldon (Cincinnati). In addition, former Harlon Hill winner Jason Vander Laan (New Orleans) decided to opt out of the NFL this season under the COVID-19 guidelines. Former wide receiver Jake Lampman also had an NFL tryout with the New Orleans Saints in August after formerly playing for the organization.
Taylor joined Sieler, Vander Laan, Sheldon, Zimmer, Thomas and Lampman this fall as former Bulldogs who have all seen NFL regular-season action in the past four years after Lampman became the first former Bulldog to do so in 13 years back in 2016.
Last fall, during the 2019 season, five Bulldog alums were signed to the active roster at one point and played in at least one regular-season game.
The seven Bulldog alums mentioned who were with NFL organizations this offseason were the most of any NCAA Division II institution in the country. A total of 11 different former Bulldogs have been invited to NFL Preseason Camps over the past four years.
The Bulldog alums in the NFL have all played key roles in helping FSU to a nation-best 72-9 overall record over the past six seasons. The Bulldogs have claimed four conference championships, posted four unbeaten regular-seasons, captured three regional titles and reached the national quarterfinals four times along with the national semifinals three times and the national championship game once during the stretch.