Ferris State Football National Champion Alums Await This Weekend's NFL Draft
Big Rapids, Mich. - The 87th annual National Football League (NFL) Draft takes place this weekend and yet again a large group of former Ferris State University football standouts are hoping to hear their names called or be contacted by NFL or professional football franchises as potential free agent pickups following the annual event.
The Bulldogs have several individuals who concluded their eligibility this past fall, leading FSU to the NCAA Division II National Championship, and hoping to make the jump to professional football.
The group includes standout quarterback Jared Bernhardt (Longwood, Fla.) in addition to consensus All-America offensive tackle and Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Dylan Pasquali (Trenton) along with fellow offensive tackle Zein Obeid (Dearborn/Fordson), who elected to enter the draft following his junior season with the Bulldogs this past fall.
The group of hopefuls who have received recognition entering the draft process and recently taken part in various pro day activities also includes defensive back Alex Thomas (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.), linebackers John Higgins (Williams Bay, Wis.) and Liam Daly (Jackson/Lumen Christi), defensive tackle Austin Simpson (Livonia/Churchill) and tailback Tyler Minor (Flint/Carmen-Ainsworth), among others who have spent the past several months training for an opportunity or been pegged on various draft boards. Two other Bulldogs, defensive back Cyntell Williams (Battle Creek/Central) and wideout Sy Barnett (Williamston), also competed in pro day activities.
Overall, numerous lists have Obeid and Pasquali found among the top offensive linemen from the small college ranks leading into the draft and tabbed as either potential late round or preferred free agent pickups by various sources. Bernhardt has drawn significant interest from NFL organizations and showcased his skills as both a potential slot receiver and kick returner.
The NFL Draft will take place in Las Vegas this year and be aired across ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network from Thursday to Saturday (April 28-30). The opening round begins on Thursday at 8 p.m. (ET) with rounds two and three set for Friday starting at 7 p.m. (ET). The final day will consist of rounds four thru seven on Saturday beginning at noon.
Four years ago, former defensive tackle Zach Sieler (Pickney) became Ferris State's first-ever NFL Draft choice when he was picked in the seventh round as the 238th overall selection by the Baltimore Ravens.
Overall, the Bulldogs had a total of seven different players in a NFL Preseason Camp last summer, which was the most of any D2 school in the country. The 'Dawgs who took part in NFL camps last summer included former DB Tavierre Thomas (Houston), DL Zach Sieler (Miami), DT Justin Zimmer (Buffalo), WR Jake Lampman (New Orleans), WR Malik Taylor (Green Bay), DL Austin Edwards (Kansas City) and DT Chris Okoye (LA Rams). Four made NFL 53-man opening day rosters, including Thomas, Sieler, Zimmer and Taylor, tops among all D2 schools, while Edwards was signed to Kansas City's practice squad.
The recent Bulldog alums in the NFL have also included former linebacker Brady Sheldon and former two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jason Vander Laan. Eight of the alums have played in at least one NFL regular-season game since 2016. Three former Bulldogs were part of team's that made the NFL Conference Championship Games in 2020 in Taylor, Zimmer and Edwards.
While Sieler is the only Ferris State football player to ever be drafted by an NFL team, several other former Bulldogs have inked NFL contracts as free agents and played in the league. The Bulldogs had at least one NFL free agent pickup following the draft seven consecutive years prior to a year ago when FSU did not play the previous fall due to COVID-19. A total of 11 alumni have earned camp invites over the past three years as offensive tackle Devon Johnson (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and receiver Keyondre Craig (Muskegon) also competed in training camps in 2019.
Over the past seven seasons, Sieler, Vander Laan, Sheldon, Zimmer, Thomas, Lampman, Taylor and Edwards have all seen NFL regular-season action after Lampman became the first to do so in 13 years back in 2016.
Unofficially, at least 23 former Ferris State players have previously inked NFL free agent deals. Former defensive back Marvin Robinson inked with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 with defensive tackle Marcus Cribbs signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015. Those two represented the first since free agent cornerback Angelo Williams with the Minnesota Vikings in 2010. Previously, in 2013, former defensive end Jordan Morgan received a rookie tryout with the New York Giants, but did not sign. In 2016, Vander Laan, Lampman and Zimmer all signed and reached NFL camps while Sheldon did likewise in 2017 before Sieler, Thomas and Okoye joined NFL organizations in 2018. In 2019, the trio of Taylor, Johnson and Craig all were signed following the draft.
The select group also consists of running back Dave Gagnon (1974-Chicago Bears), outside linebacker Monty Brown (1997-New York Jets), defensive tackle Ed Philion (1994-Buffalo Bills), defensive end Dave Zuiderveen (2001-Atlanta Falcons), flanker Clarence Coleman (2002-Buffalo Bills), tackle Matt McCoy (2004-Detroit Lions), wide receiver Carlton Brewster (2006-Cleveland Browns) and defensive tackle Jake Visser (2009-Houston Texans).
Two other former Ferris State players, offensive guard Bill Bourdlais and safety Patrick Wells, received tryout invitations from the Cleveland Browns in 2008 and participated in the team's rookie minicamp, but did not ink a deal. Several others have also had NFL tryouts including wide receiver Andre Johnson (1989), quarterback Dave DenBraber (1987), tight end Scott Alward (1984-Detroit Lions/NY Giants) and receiver/returner Fred Kirkland (1981). Defensive back James Skodak (2006) also had tryouts with several NFL organizations among other past Bulldog standouts.
The Bulldog standouts awaiting the draft all played key roles this past fall in leading Ferris State to the NCAA Division II National Championship. This past season, along with capturing the D2 National Championship with a perfect 14-0 record, the Bulldogs also claimed a third-straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship and stretched their regular-season winning streak to 38 consecutive games and counting.
FSU has reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals four times in the past five seasons of action and ranks as the country's winningest program over the past seven full seasons in D2 Football.
The Bulldogs have won each of the last three GLIAC Championships in unbeaten fashion and reached the national quarterfinals five consecutive years, which is the longest streak in the country. Over the past three seasons of on-field action, the Bulldogs have compiled a 41-2 mark.
Bulldog NFL Fact List:
5 - Alums were on NFL rosters in 2021
7 - Alums earned NFL training camp invites in 2021
8 - Alums have played in NFL regular-season action since 2016
8 - Alums received NFL training camp invites in 2019
11 - Alums have earned NFL training camp invites since 2019
23 - Alums all-time have signed NFL free agent contracts