Grand Rapids Reporter

The 89th annual NFL Draft is set to take place this weekend in Detroit, with several former Ferris State University football players hoping to make the leap to professional football. Among those receiving significant attention are defensive back Shon Stephens, defensive end Olalere Oladipo, and wide receiver Xavier Wade. These athletes have been training for months and participating in pro day events, with their names appearing on various draft boards.

Stephens has been highlighted as one of the top small college players entering the draft and is expected to be either a late-round pick or a preferred free agent. Both Wade and Oladipo have also attracted interest from professional teams.

The NFL Draft will be broadcasted on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network from April 25-27. The first round begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, followed by rounds two and three on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The final rounds four through seven will occur on Saturday starting at noon.

Ferris State's history with the NFL includes Zach Sieler being drafted in the seventh round by the Baltimore Ravens six years ago. Over recent years, Ferris State has had more players participate in NFL preseason camps than any other Division II school in the country.

Currently, four former Bulldogs are part of NFL rosters: Tavierre Thomas (Tampa Bay), Zach Sieler (Miami), Malik Taylor (New York Jets), and Caleb Murphy (Tennessee). Several others continue their careers in different indoor and outdoor leagues.

In total, ten Ferris State alumni have played in at least one regular-season NFL game since 2016. Additionally, many former Bulldogs have signed as free agents or received tryouts with various teams over the years.

The Bulldogs' success extends beyond individual achievements; they secured a ninth consecutive playoff berth last fall and won back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships in 2021 and 2022.