Ferris State Football Alum Justin Zimmer Signed By NFL's Atlanta Falcons

Big Rapids, Mich. - Former Ferris State University standout defensive lineman Justin Zimmer (Greenville) has earned another opportunity in the National Football League (NFL) as he was signed Tuesday by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

Zimmer, who spent training camp last summer with the NFL's New Orleans Saints, most recently played last fall with the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Montreal Alouettes where he finished with three tackles and a sack in his lone contest. He was signed by the Falcons as a free agent.

Last summer, Zimmer was one of four former Bulldogs to take part in NFL camps along with former teammates Jake Lampman, Jason Vander Laan and Brady Sheldon. All three currently remain active with NFL organizations, including Lampman in Tampa Bay, Vander Laan with the Indianapolis Colts and Sheldon with the Oakland Raiders.

Zimmer had previously joined the Saints after being named to their practice squad in December of 2016, which followed a training camp stint the previous summer with the NFL's Buffalo Bills.

Zimmer finished his collegiate career as a three-time All-GLIAC First Team selection for the Bulldogs. He was both a nominee for the Gene Upshaw NCAA Division II Lineman of the Year Award and the Cliff Harris National Small College Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2015 after being a national finalist for both honors the previous campaign.

Statistically, Zimmer led Ferris State in tackles (81), quarterback sacks (13), tackles for loss (26) and forced fumbles (four). He was also chosen to the 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team squad, making him a three-time Academic All-American and two-time first-team recipient.

As a senior, Zimmer helped lead the Bulldogs to an 11-1 overall record for the second-straight year in 2015 as FSU captured the school's second-straight GLIAC Championship while capping off back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons. Ferris State also stretched its regular-season win streak to 25 games and posted its first playoff victory in 19 years during Zimmer's senior campaign.

During his collegiate career, FSU posted the GLIAC's best league record (34-6) and the squad owned the top overall four-year record of all 21 collegiate programs in Michigan (37-9).