PRO DAWGS UPDATE: Sieler Headlines Ferris State Alums In NFL Action During Week Three

Big Rapids, Mich. - Three Ferris State University football alums again saw action in week three of the National Football League (NFL) season this past weekend.

Third-year Bulldog pro Zach Sieler had his best performance of the year on Thursday (Sept. 24) night in the Miami Dolphins' nationally-televised 31-13 road win at Jacksonville as he recorded three tackles and a sack while being a disruptive and active force up front in the squad's first win of the year. Sieler played a season-high 31 snaps after garnering 20 in the first two games combined.

Meanwhile, fellow third-year pro Tavierre Thomas again saw significant action for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday (Sept. 27) afternoon and finished with a pair of stops on 30 snaps in the franchise's 34-20 home win over Washington as they improved to 2-1 on the year.

Finally, former Bulldog receiver Malik Taylor competed for the Green Bay Packers in their nationally-televised 37-30 victory on Sunday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints. They stayed unbeaten at 3-0 on the year as he played in four offensive snaps and 15 on special teams. Overall, he's played 16 offensive snaps and 29 on special teams in three games this fall.

While he did not see action this week, Bulldog alum Justin Zimmer remains with the Buffalo Bills, who are now 3-0 after a 35-32 home win over the Los Angeles Rams. Zimmer saw signifacant action in week one and earned mention last 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, has spent the initial three weeks of the year 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 this year in the NFL, which is the most of any NCAA Division II school in the country.

This coming week, in week four action, Sieler and the Dolphins will square off against the Seattle Seahawks at home on Sunday (Oct. 4) at 1 p.m. (ET). Thomas and the Browns will head to Texas to face the Dallas Cowboys at 1 p.m. (ET) with Zimmer and the Bills visiting the Los Vegas Raiders for a 4:25 p.m. (ET) tilt.

Finally, Taylor will make his Monday Night Football debut with the Packers as they square off against the Atlanta Falcons at 8:15 p.m. (ET) on Monday (Oct. 6) at Lambeau Field.

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.