PRO DAWGS UPDATE: Ferris State Alums Shine Again In NFL Week Seven Action

Big Rapids, Mich. - A total of five Ferris State University football alums were on active rosters and four saw playing time this past weekend in week seven of the National Football League (NFL).

Rookie defensive end Austin Edwards, who was the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year for the Bulldogs last fall, made his NFL regular-season debut for the Atlanta Falcons in a narrow 23-22 home loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday (Oct. 25). Edwards appeared in five special teams plays and saw a defensive snap in a goal line situation in his first professional action.

Meanwhile, former Bulldog receiver Malik Taylor became the first FSU alum to score in the NFL in 39 years as he hauled in a short one-yard scoring throw from quarterback Aaron Rodgers late in the second quarter in Green Bay's 35-20 road win at Houston. Taylor caught two balls in the game for six yards  while playing 10 offensive snaps and 12 on special teams in the win.

Bulldog alum Justin Zimmer helped the Buffalo Bills to an 18-10 win over the New York Jets on the road as he played a total of 19 defensive snaps in the victory.

Finally, third-year pro Tavierre Thomas played a total of 22 special teams plays as the Cleveland Browns topped the Cincinnati Bengals 37-34 on the road in Ohio on Sunday.

Fellow third-year Bulldog alum Zach Sieler of the NFL's Miami Dolphins has also been on the team's active 53-man roster all season, but they had a bye this past weekend.

This week, Edwards and the Falcons open action on Thursday (Oct. 29) on the road at Carolina starting at 8:20 p.m. (ET) on Fox and the NFL Network. The action continues on Sunday (Nov. 2) with Sieler returning to action as Miami hosts the Los Angeles Rams at 1 p.m. (ET) with Taylor and the Packers taking on the Minnesota Vikings in Green Bay at the same time. Thomas will also hit the field in early afternoon action as Cleveland hosts the Las Vegas Raiders with Zimmer and the Bills playing host to the New England Patriots. 

Together, the five Bulldog alums have helped their respective clubs post an overall 19-14 record to date this year and four of the five teams have .500 records or better, including three teams with five wins each in Green Bay (5-1), Cleveland (5-2) and Buffalo (5-2).

The five total representatives playing in the NFL for the Bulldogs are the most of any NCAA Division II school in the country. Additionally, Edwards became the eighth different Ferris State alum to see regular-season action on football's biggest stage since 2016.