Ferris State Football Hauls In Exceptional Recruiting Class On National Signing Day

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Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football program, which ranks as the country's winningest program over the past six full seasons in NCAA Division II football, has landed a highly-talented National Signing Day recruiting class as the Bulldogs announced the names of 28 signees on Wednesday (Feb. 3). The class includes strength from within the state with 19 prospects from Michigan and a strong Florida flavor with eight talented recruits from the Sunshine State in addition to one from Georgia.

Head Coach Coach Annese, who ranks as the nation's winningest active head coach, announced FSU's 2021 recruiting class with a live online afternoon announcement from the Wheeler Pavilion. The outstanding class continues the Bulldogs' recent success and name on a national level in addition to continuing the program's strong ties from Michigan.

The Bulldogs' 28-member class again is projected among the country's best and features a heavy dose of players with championship experience. Nearly all of this year's signees also received all-state accolades on an individual basis and were ranked among the top prep standouts in their respective states. They will join a FSU program that has posted the GLIAC's best league record over the past seven seasons (87-16) and a squad that owns the top overall eight-year record, not counting the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season, of all collegiate programs in Michigan or in the GLIAC.

"This class is another exceptional one with outstanding ability and talent," said Annese. "We've not only landed a great class in terms of ability, but these are young men who will be committed to success both on and off the field. They will join a group of awesome student-athletes who continue to thrive in our program as part of the Bulldog family."

Ferris State's 2021 signing class includes standouts on both sides of the ball as the Bulldogs inked 15 touted prospects on the offensive side to go with 12 defensively and a specialist. The total number of signees on both sides of the ball includes a nice mix of student-athletes from nearly every position.

Offensively, FSU added three offensive linemen, four wide receivers, two slots, three potential quarterbacks, one tight end/H-Back and two running backs to fit the Bulldogs' high-powered offense, which has ranked among the nation's leaders in total offense, scoring offense and rushing offense throughout Annese's tenure.

On the defensive side, the Bulldogs brought in five in the secondary, five on the defensive line and two linebackers to bolster a unit that has ranked among the nation's best in recent years.

Ferris State again placed a heavy emphasis on its home state and grabbed plenty of the top talent in the state of Michigan with 18 coming from within the state, including seven from the Detroit metro area along with seven from West Michigan in the Bulldogs' back yard. FSU also continued its highly-successful pipeline to Florida, inking a program-record eight talented performers in one signing class from the Sunshine State, in addition to a standout slot receiver from Georgia.

Within Michigan, Ferris State again attracted top talent from West Michigan with signees from schools such as Muskegon High, Muskegon Mona Shores, Ludington, Wyoming, Forest Hills Northern, Thornapple-Kellogg and Zeeland West. FSU also again maintained a strong hold in the southeast corner of the state and the Metro Detroit area with incoming recruits from high schools such as Detroit Cass Tech, Detroit Edison, Detroit Denby, Detroit Martin Luther King, Wyandotte Roosevelt, Livonia Churchill and Clarenceville. The Bulldogs also landed student-athletes from other areas across the state such as Jackson, Bad Axe, New Lothrop and Laker High Schools.

From the Sunshine State, Ferris State placed an emphasis on areas rich in talent such as the Miami area in South Florida and up the Space Coast while continuing a strong pipeline to the Tampa/St. Petersburg area on the West side in addition to the Fort Myers region.

The Bulldogs have won each of the last two GLIAC Championships in unbeaten fashion and reached the national quarterfinals four consecutive years, which is the longest streak in the country. Over the past two seasons of action in 2018 and 2019, the Bulldogs have compiled a 27-2 mark.

Over the last six full seasons at Ferris State, the Bulldogs have compiled a 72-9 overall record and claimed four conference championships, posted four unbeaten regular-seasons, captured three regional titles and reached the national quarterfinals four times under Annese. Ferris State has also accumulated three Harlon Hill National Player of the Year trophies, twice had a student-athlete tabbed as the nation's National Scholar-Athlete of the Year and won 12 postseason games in addition to an appearance in the 2018 National Championship game. The Bulldogs' six-straight playoff appearances is the second-longest longest streak in the nation.

Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all 21 collegiate programs in Michigan at 87-16 overall since the arrival of Annese as head coach in 2012.

For complete coverage of the 2021 football signing day class, stay tuned to FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

2021 Ferris State Football Recruiting Class
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