Live Breaking News & Updates on America second team

Stay informed with the latest breaking news from America second team on our comprehensive webpage. Get up-to-the-minute updates on local events, politics, business, entertainment, and more. Our dedicated team of journalists delivers timely and reliable news, ensuring you're always in the know. Discover firsthand accounts, expert analysis, and exclusive interviews, all in one convenient destination. Don't miss a beat — visit our webpage for real-time breaking news in America second team and stay connected to the pulse of your community

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Standout Ferris State All-America defensive back Shon Stephens and Bulldog two-sport alum Mason Pline are hoping to take their game to the highest level after connecting the National Football League teams following this week’s NFL Draft.

Stephens accepted a rookie minicamp invite from the Philadelphia Eagles and Pline agreed to a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

In his lone season as a Bulldog, Stephens was named to the 2023 American Football Coaches Association All-America squad as announced by the national coaches organization.

The Bakersfield, Calif. native was chosen as an AFCA All-America Second Team choice, representing the ninth consecutive year the Bulldogs had at least one AFCA All-America selection - the longest active streak in the country.

Stephens also was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award presented to the nation's top small college defensive player.

Stephens was chosen this year to the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-Super Region Three First Team along with the All-GLIAC First Team in addition to being tabbed as the GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year.

Stephens, who transferred from West Liberty University prior to this season, intercepted eight passes in 2023 and scored a pair of touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return. He ranked second nationally in interceptions per game with 0.7 and finished with 12 passes defended, including four breakups. He finished tied for fourth among the team leaders with 43 total tackles in his lone season as a Bulldog.

Pline competed as a graduate transfer this past fall at FCS member Furman University. He began his collegiate career as a men's basketball student-athlete under head coach Andy Bronkema, appearing in 83 games for the Bulldogs from 2018 to 2021. He helped lead the Bulldogs to the GLIAC Championship on the hardwood during the 2019-20 season.

Pline then joined the Bulldog football squad in 2021 and appeared in 25 games for head coach Tony Annese during back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championship seasons in 2021 and 2022 while scoring a pair of touchdowns.

This past season, Pline hauled in 32 catches for 287 yards while claiming all-conference honors and helping lead Furman to a 10-3 record as a graduate transfer, including a run to the FCS National Quarterfinals. Pline earned opportunities to showcase his skills following this past season in both the Hula Bowl and the Shrine Bowl collegiate all-star events.

The Bulldogs last year reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the ninth-straight season, the longest active streak in the country. The Bulldogs went 8-3 overall this past year following back-to-back NCAA D2 National Championship campaigns in 2021 and 2022.

Six years ago, former defensive tackle Zach 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.

Overall, the Bulldogs have had 11 players in a NFL Preseason Camp over the past three summers, which is the most of any D2 school in the country. The Bulldogs who took part in NFL camps from 2021 to 2023 have included former DB Tavierre Thomas, (Houston Texans), DL Zach Sieler (Miami) Dolphins), DT Justin Zimmer (Buffalo Bills), WR Jake Lampman (New Orleans Saints), WR Malik Taylor (Green Bay Packers and New York Jets), DL Austin Edwards (Kansas City Chiefs), DT Chris Okoye (Los Angeles Rams), receiver Jared Bernhardt (Atlanta Falcons), offensive tackle Zein Obeid (Detroit Lions), offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and defensive end Caleb Murphy (Tennessee Titans).

Four Bulldog alums are currently still with NFL organizations, including Thomas, now with the Buccaneers; Sieler; Taylor, now with the Jets; and Murphy, which is among tops of all D2 schools. Several other Bulldog alums are competing professionally in other indoor and outdoor leagues.

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. A total of 10 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 have now had at least one NFL free agent pickup following the draft each of the past nine seasons in which they've played a campaign. A total of 16 alumni have now earned camp invites over the past five years as offensive tackle Devon Johnson and receiver Keyondre Craig also competed in training camps in 2019.

Over the past 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 13 years back in 2016.

At least 27 former Ferris State players have previously inked NFL free agent deals. Former defensive back Marvin Robinson signed 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 in 2022 followed by Murphy in 2023.

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.

Minnesota , United-states , San-francisco , California , Texas , New-york , Kansas , Dallas , Chicago , Illinois , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania

Stats and facts about every pick in Chiefs' 2024 draft class

Check out these stats and facts about the Chiefs' 2024 rookie class

Washington , United-states , Independence-community-college , Kansas , Tennessee , Wisconsin , Oregon , Iowa , Kansas-city , Texas , Colorado , American

Draft dreams: Rigerman hopes to make NFL jump from DII Findlay

This weekend, Mike Rigerman will watch the NFL Draft with friends and college teammates in Findlay, Ohio and keep his parents on the phone from Arcade, New York.

University-of-findlay , Ohio , United-states , Texas , Fort-worth , Youngstown , New-york , Orchard-park , American , America , Brandon-beane , Matthew-judon

WVU's Zach Frazier drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – From Polar Bear to Mountaineer and now to Steeler – Zach Frazier is headed to the NFL after being selected by Pittsburgh Friday night in the second

Marion-county , West-virginia , United-states , Cleveland , Ohio , Morgantown , Arizona , Kansas-city , Kansas , Cincinnati , Iowa , Oakland

Javon Bullard

2023: AP All-SEC Second Team selection...played in 12 games this season, starting all at DB…ranked third on the team in tackles with 56, including one for a loss of one yard…grabbed a pair of interceptions and tallied five pass breakups...tallied four tac

Missouri , United-states , Florida , Oregon , Ohio , Georgia , Mississippi , Kentucky , Tennessee , Arkansas , Baldwin-high-school , Alabama

Top 5 things to know about new Bills safety Cole Bishop

Bishop played with Bills TE Dalton Kincaid at Utah and was one of the Pac-12's best defenders

Utah , United-states , America , Dalton-kincaid , Conference-second-team , College-football-network , America-second-team , Rose-bowl , Conference-honorable-mention , College-football-network-all-america-second , Most-outstanding-athlete , Utah-athletics

Brock Bowers selected by Las Vegas Raiders in first round of 2024 NFL Draft

Brock Bowers, tight end for the Georgia Bulldogs, was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Georgia , United-states , Las-vegas , Nevada , Athens , Attikír , Greece , America , Godawgs-nfldraftpic , Brock-bowers , Espn , College-football-playoff-national-championship

🏀 Dickinson to Return to Kansas in 2024-25

Kansas center Hunter Dickinson has announced he will return to Kansas for the 2024-25 season.

Kansas , United-states , Alexandria , Al-iskandariyah , Egypt , Virginia , America , American , Bill-self , Zach-edey-purdue , Baylor-schereman-creighton , Kevin-mccullar-jr

Hunter Dickinson announces return to Kansas

Hunter Dickinson announces return to Kansas
kctv5.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kctv5.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.

Michigan , United-states , Alexandria , Al-iskandariyah , Egypt , Kansas , Virginia , American , America , Bill-self , Baylor-schereman-creighton , Kevin-mccullar-jr

Draft dreams: Rigerman hopes to make NFL jump from DII Findlay

This weekend, Mike Rigerman will watch the NFL Draft with friends and college teammates in Findlay, Ohio and keep his parents on the phone from Arcade, New York.

Ohio , United-states , Fort-worth , Texas , Youngstown , New-york , University-of-findlay , Orchard-park , America , American , Mike-jerrell , Kory-allen