Two-Time National Champion Ferris State Football Alums Await NFL Draft This Week

Big Rapids, Mich. - The 88th annual National Football League (NFL) Draft takes place this weekend and yet again a 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 a second consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship, and hoping to make the jump to professional football.

The group includes defensive end Caleb Murphy (Dowagiac), who was the country's consensus D2 National Defensive Player of the Year this past fall, along with other notables who have been featured on various lists as potential pros such as offensive guard Adam Sieler (Pickney), defensive tackle Jordan Jones (Redford/Divine Child), defensive back Sidney McCloud (Miramar, Fla.), defensive back Cyntell Williams (Battle Creek/Center), slot/specialist Marcus Taylor (Orlando, Fla.), offensive lineman Marouf Hamade (Dearborn) and others. All have either spent the past several months training for an opportunity, taken part in pro day events or been pegged on various draft boards. McCloud is already currently playing professionally for the USFL's New Orleans Breakers.

Overall, numerous lists have Murphy featured among the top players in the small college ranks leading into the draft and tabbed as either a potential late round or preferred free agent pickup by various sources. He has drawn significant interest from NFL organizations and showcased his skills at this year's NFL Combine. Murphy, Jones and Sieler are all listed among the top 60 Division II Prospects in this year's class by NFL Draft expert Josh Buchanan.

The NFL Draft will take place in Kansas City this year and be aired across ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network from Thursday to Saturday (April 27-29). 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.

Five 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 have had a total of 10 different players in a NFL Preseason Camp over the past two summers, which is the most of any D2 school in the country. The 'Dawgs who took part in NFL camps in either 2021 or 2022 have 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), DT Chris Okoye (LA Rams), receiver Jared Bernhardt (Atlanta), offensive tackle Zein Obeid (Detroit) and offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali (Tampa Bay).

Five Bulldog alums are currently still on NFL rosters, including Thomas (Houston), Sieler (Miami), Zimmer (Miami), Taylor (New York Jets) and Bernhardt (Atlanta), tops among all D2 schools. Presently, a total of 10 Bulldog alums are playing in one of the major professional leagues, including the NFL, XFL or USFL.

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 2020 when FSU did not play the previous fall due to COVID-19. A total of 14 alumni have earned camp invites over the past four 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 eight 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 26 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 while Bernhardt, Obeid and Pasquali garnered opportunities a year ago.

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 a second consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship. This past season, along with capturing the D2 National Championship with 14-1 record, the Bulldogs also made the NCAA Divsion II Playoffs for the eighth consecutive time and reached the NCAA D2 National Semifinals for the fifth time in six seasons.

FSU also ranks as the country's winningest program over the past eight full seasons in D2 Football. Over the past two national championship seasons, the Bulldogs own a 28-1 overall record.

Bulldog NFL Fact List:
5 - Alums currently on NFL rosters
6 - Alums received NFL training camp invites in 2022
8 - Alums have played in NFL regular-season action since 2016
10 - Alums currently playing professionally in NFL, XFL or USFL
14 - Alums have earned NFL training camp invites since 2019
26 - Alums all-time have signed NFL free agent contracts