Grand Rapids Reporter

Six Ferris State University football alumni are currently participating in the 2024 National Football League (NFL) preseason training camps, which are underway across the country. The Bulldogs' NFL camp participants include four veterans: defensive tackle Zach Sieler (Miami), defensive back Tavierre Thomas (Tampa Bay), wide receiver Malik Taylor (NY Jets), and second-year defensive end Caleb Murphy (Tennessee).

Additionally, two rookies have earned camp invitations: defensive back Shon Stephens (Philadelphia), who concluded his FSU eligibility last fall, and tight end Mason Pline (San Francisco), who was a two-time national champion for the Bulldogs before playing his final season as a graduate transfer at Furman University.

The Bulldog alumni will open NFL preseason action in early August with the regular season set to begin on Sept. 5. The roster deadline is Aug. 27, by which each professional franchise must cut down to a 53-man active/inactive roster.

Six years ago, Sieler 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. He recently signed a major contract extension with the Dolphins.

Overall, the Bulldogs have had a total of 13 different players in an NFL Preseason Camp over the past four summers, which is the most of any Division II school in the country. The 'Dawgs who have participated in NFL camps since 2021 include not only Thomas, Sieler, Taylor, and Murphy but also DT Justin Zimmer (Buffalo), WR Jake Lampman (New Orleans), 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) in addition to both Stephens and Pline this year.

Recent Bulldog alums in the NFL over the past decade have included former linebacker Brady Sheldon and former two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jason Vander Laan. A total of ten alumni have played in at least one NFL regular-season game since 2016. Three former Bulldogs were part of teams that made it to the NFL Conference Championship Games in 2020: Taylor, Zimmer, and Edwards.

Along with the six alumni currently in an NFL preseason training camp, two other ex-Bulldog standouts had opportunities at mini-camps in spring as both receiver Xavier Wade (Denver) and Bernhardt (NY Giants) were tryout participants in May.

While Sieler is the only Ferris State football player ever 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 each draft over the past nine seasons they’ve played. A total of 17 alumni have earned camp invites over the past six years; offensive tackle Devon Johnson and receiver Keyondre Craig also competed in training camps in 2019.

Over these nine seasons, Sieler, Vander Laan, Sheldon, Zimmer, Thomas, Lampman, Taylor, Edwards, Bernhardt and Murphy have all seen NFL regular-season action after Lampman became the first to do so in thirteen years back in 2016.

Presently, several other Bulldog alums are competing professionally in various indoor and outdoor leagues. These standouts have played key roles leading FSU to nine consecutive NCAA Division II Playoff appearances—currently leading the country—and making Ferris State one of Division II Football’s winningest programs over these nine full seasons.