The Ferris State Bulldogs football program, 2010âÂÂ2019 represented Ferris State University during the 2010s in NCAA Division II college football as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team had two head coaches during the decade: Jeff Pierce, who held the post from 1995 to 2011, and Tony Annese, who took over in 2012 and remains the head coach as of 2025. Highlights of the decade included:
The team played its home games at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Michigan.
The 2010 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2010 NCAA Division II football season. In their 16th season under head coach Jeff Pierce, the Bulldogs compiled a 5âÂÂ6 record (5âÂÂ5 in conference games), tied for third place in the GLIAC North Division, and were outscored by a total of 299 to 273.
In a pre-season coaches poll, Ferris State was picked to finish eleventh in the conference. The Bulldogs had been winless against GLIAC opponents in 2009.
The team's statistical leaders included Tom Schneider (1,741 passing yards, 36 points scored, 2,060 yards total offense), Mike Ryan (59 receptions for 657 yards), Skyler Stoker (471 rushing yards), and Matt Ryan (128 total tackles).
The 2011 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2010 NCAA Division II football season. In their 17th and final season under head coach Jeff Pierce, the Bulldogs compiled a 6âÂÂ5 record (5âÂÂ5 in conference games), finished in sixth place in the GLIAC North Division, and outscored opponents by a total of 309 to 272.
The team's statistical leaders included Tom Schneider (2,370 passing yards), Mike Ryan (62 receptions, 783 yards), Skyler Stoker (586 rushing yards), kicker Victor Brodie (68 points scored) and Tayo Moss (118 total tackles).
The 2012 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2012 NCAA Division II football season. In their first season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a 7âÂÂ4 record (6âÂÂ4 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the GLIAC North Division, and outscored opponents by a total of 376 to 333.
At the end of the 2011 season, Jeff Pierce was fired as Ferris State's head coach. In December 2011, Annese was hired to take over as head coach. Annese had coached 22 years at the high school level with a 195âÂÂ41 record, and, most recently, had led Grand Rapids Community College to the 2011 junior college national championship and a 30âÂÂ4 record from 2009 to 2011.
Freshman quarterback Jason Vander Laan led the team in passing, rushing, and scoring. He completed 133 of 231 passes (57.6%) for 1,493 yards, 13 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 125.2 passer efficiency rating. On the ground, he tallied 1,338 rushing yards on 247 carries (5.4 yards per carry). Vander Laan also scored 100 points on 16 rushing touchdowns and two two-point conversions. Vander Laan later won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the most valuable player in NCAA Division II in both 2014 and 2015.
Jake Lampman was the leading receiver with 44 catches for 717 yards. Tayo Moss led the defense with 116 total tackles. Brad Iskow led the team with 25-1/2 tackles for loss
The 2013 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2013 NCAA Division II football season. In their second season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled an 8âÂÂ3 record (9âÂÂ2 in conference games), finished in second place in the GLIAC North Division, and outscored opponents by a total of 427 to 317.
For the second consecutive year, sophomore quarterback Jason Vander Laan led the team in passing, rushing, and scoring. He completed 140 of 224 passes (62.5%) for 1,741 yards, 15 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 141.8 passer efficiency rating. On the ground, he set a Division II record for quarterbacks with 1,607 rushing yards on 265 attempts for an average of 6.1 yards per carry. He also led the team in scoring with 126 points scored on 21 rushing touchdowns.
Jake Lampan was the team's leading receiver with 38 catches for 542 yards and five touchdowns. Marvin Robinson was the team's leading tackler with 50 solo tackles and 89 total tackles. Justin Zimmer led the team with 10-1/2 tackles for loss and 7-1/2 sacks.
The 2014 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2014 NCAA Division II football season. In their third season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled an 11âÂÂ1 overall record (11âÂÂ0 regular season, 10âÂÂ0 in conference games), won the GLIAC championship for the first time since 1999 (and the first outright title since 1996), and outscored opponents by a total of 445 to 170. They participated in the 2014 NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time since 1996. They received a bye in the first round and lost to in the second round. Annese was selected as the GLIAC coach of the year and was credited with reviving the Ferris State football program.
Junior quarterback Jason Vander Laan won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the most valuable player in Division II. He completed 183 of 275 passes for 2,381 yards, 30 touchdowns and a 177.8 passing efficiency rating. On the ground, he tallied 1,466 rushing yards, the most by a quarterback in Division II during the 2014 season. He was also responsible for 300 of the team's 445 points with 50 combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
The 2015 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2015 NCAA Division II football season. In their fourth season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled an 11âÂÂ1 overall record (10âÂÂ0 regular season, 10âÂÂ0 in conference games), tied with for the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 535 to 265. The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, defeating Texas A&M Commerce in the first round, then losing to Grand Valley State in the second round.
For the second consecutive year, senior quarterback Jason Vander Laan won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the most valuable player in Division II. The 2015 team also featured defensive lineman Justin Zimmer who was selected as a Division II All-American and later played several years in the National Football League.
The 2016 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. In their fifth season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a 12âÂÂ3 overall record (â regular season, 9âÂÂ2 in conference games), finished second in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 563 to . The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, defeating Midwestern State, Colorado Mines, and Grand Valley State, before losing to Northwest Missouri State in the semifinals.
The 2017 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2017 NCAA Division II football season. In their fifth season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled an 11âÂÂ2 overall record (9âÂÂ1 regular season, 8âÂÂ1 in conference games), finished second in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of to . The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, defeating and , before losing to in the Super Region 3 regional championship game.
The 2018 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2018 NCAA Division II football season. In their seventh season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a 15âÂÂ1 overall record (10âÂÂ0 regular season, 8âÂÂ0 in conference games), won the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 629 to 328. The Bulldogs won 15 consecutive games to start the season, including victories in the NCAA Division II playoffs over , , and . They lost to Valdosta State in the Division II national championship game.
Junior quarterback Jayru Campbell won the 2018 Harlon Hill Trophy as the most valuable player in Division II. Campbell completed 187 of 310 passes (60.3%) for 2,931 yards, 27 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 164.6 passing efficiency rating. He also led the team in rushing (1,460 yards) and scoring (132 points on 21 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown).
Other key players included freshman wide receiver Sy Barnett (43 receptions for 1,003 yards), sophomore running back Marvin Campbell (874 rushing yards), junior kicker J. Dieterle (74 of 75 on extra pints), and junior defensive end Austin Edwards (97 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks).
The 2019 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2019 NCAA Division II football season. In their eighth season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a 12âÂÂ1 overall record (âÂÂ0 regular season, 8âÂÂ0 in conference games), won the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of to . The Bulldogs opened the season with 12 consecutive victories, including playoff victories over and . They lost in the NCAA Division II semifinals to national champion West Florida.
Senior quarterback Jayru Campbell, winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2018, led the team through the regular season, but missed the playoffs after suffering an ankle injury that required surgery. He was replaced in the playoffs by Travis Russell, a senior from Grand Rapids.
The team's statistical leaders included Travis Russell (1,503 passing yards), junior running back Marvin Campbell (848 rushing yards), sophomore wide receiver Sy Barnett (34 receptions for 781 yards), and senior kicker J. Dieterle (87 points scored). Senior defensive end Austin Edwards was a first-team Division II All-American and won the Gene Upshaw Award as the best lineman in Division II.