Bulldog National Champion Alum Jared Bernhardt Makes NFL 53-Man Roster With Atlanta Falcons

Big Rapids, Mich. - Former Ferris State University football standout Jared Bernhardt (Longwood, Fla.), who led FSU to the school's first NCAA Division II National Championship on the field last fall, has made the 53-man opening day roster for the National Football League's (NFL) Atlanta Falcons.

Bernhardt, who signed with the Falcons as a priority free agent following this past spring's NFL Draft, was among the final 53-man roster selections today as NFL teams made their final cuts. After playing quarterback for the Bulldogs a year ago, he converted to a wide receiver and kick returner role with the Falcons, scoring on a game-winning TD reception in week two of the preseason against the Detroit Lions.

The Bulldog alum joins two other Ferris State products in making NFL 53-man roster this year in fifth-year pro's Tavierre Thomas (Houston) and Zach Sieler (Miami). Bernhardt is the first Bulldog player under head coach Tony Annese to make the 53-man roster out of preseason camp as a rookie.

"We're so excited for Jared and he's one special player I would never bet against," said Annese. "He's an extremely hard worker and dedicated individual who brings out the best in everyone. It's great he has this special opportunity to continue his career and we'll be following him when he takes the field."

As a Bulldog, Bernhardt left a strong impression in his lone season of collegiate football last following an outstanding four-year career as one of the nation's top lacrosse players at the University of Maryland, where he won the Tewaaraton Award as the country's top performer in the spring of 2021. Last fall, he ran for a team-high 1,421 yards on 159 attempts, ranking as one of the nation's leading rushers while scoring 26 touchdowns during FSU's national championship campaign. Additionally, he completed 87-of-123 (70.7%) throws for 1,322 yards and 11 scores en route to earning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Player of the Year accolades.

Bernhardt ranked as one of the nation's top playmakers for the Bulldogs and guided Ferris State to the school's third consecutive GLIAC Championship prior to one of the most dominant playoff runs in NCAA Division II history. He was chosen as the GLIAC Player of the Week five times last fall and also garnered D2Football.com National Player of the Week laurels after accounting for seven touchdowns in his Ferris State debut. His play helped the Bulldogs lead the nation last season in both scoring offense and total offense and he also set an NCAA record for most rushing touchdowns in a single-season on the Division II level by a quarterback.

Bernhardt became the latest in a long line of former Bulldogs to join an NFL franchise. The Bulldogs had six former players take part in NFL rookie or preseason camps this summer. Overall, the Bulldogs have also had a total of 14 different alumni earn rookie camp or training camp invites over the past five years, which is the most of any D2 school in the country.

Four Bulldog alums made NFL 53-man opening day rosters a year ago, tops among D2 schools. Eight of the alums have played in at least one NFL regular-season game since 2016 and three former Bulldogs were part of team's that made the NFL Conference Championship Games in 2020.

The Falcons will open the 2022 NFL season by hosting the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m. (ET).