PRO DAWGS UPDATE: Four Ferris State Alums Took The Field For NFL Action This Past Week

Big Rapids, Mich. - Four Ferris State University football alums competed in week six action in the National Football League (NFL) this past week.

FSU alum Justin Zimmer was promoted to the Buffalo Bills' active roster and played a major defensive role for the franchise in their narrow 26-17 home loss to defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City on Monday (Oct. 19) night in Orchard Park, NY. Zimmer finished with six tackles to go with a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit despite being called up only hours before the tilt as he saw his first regular-season action since the opening week of the year. He finished playing 32 plays and has drew attention as the unit's top defensive player in the game.

Former Bulldog Zach Sieler, now in his third NFL season, helped the Miami Dolphins move to 3-3 on the year as his defensive unit pitched a 24-0 shutout over the New York Jets at home. Sieler totaled three stops with a tackle for loss and QB hit in the performance while playing 49 defensive snaps and four on special teams.

Fellow third-year pro Tavierre Thomas also saw action again in the Cleveland Browns' 38-7 setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road as they fell to 4-2 on the year. He continues to receive major attention as one of the NFL's top special teams performers. Thomas played a total of 26 special teams plays or 96% of the squad's total on the unit in the contest.

Finally, former Bulldog receiver Malik Taylor, appeared in Green Bay's 38-10 road setback to Tampa Bay. The Packers suffered their first loss of the season and are now 4-1 overall. Taylor was targeted once, but did not have a reception in the outing while playing 32 offensive snaps and another nine on special teams.

Along with the four active roster players, 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 year to date on the practice squad with the Atlanta Falcons.

The five alums currently in the NFL are the most of any NCAA Division II school in the country.

This coming week, in week seven action, Zimmer and the Bills visit the New York Jets for a 1 p.m. (ET) contest on Sunday (Oct. 25). Taylor and the Packers will travel to Houston for a 1 p.m. (ET) game with Thomas headed to Cincinnati with the Browns for an in-state showdown at the same time. Sieler and the Dolphins are on a bye week.

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, but remains with the franchise. 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.