November 22, 2024

Ferris State quarterback Trinidad Chambliss earns GLIAC Player of the Year honors, Tony Annese named Coach of the Year

Ferris State University quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was named All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and head Coach Tony Annese earned Coach of the Year honors as the top-ranked football team prepares for postseason competition.

GLIAC also honored eight Ferris State student-athletes with All-GLIAC First Team honorees along with seven second team picks and five honorable mention choices.

The Bulldogs are riding a 10-game winning streak and last week earned the GLIAC championship as well as the inaugural Calder City Classic trophy against Davenport University. Ferris State will host a second-round NCAA Division II Playoff Game on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Top Taggart Field.

Ferris State's first-team All-GLIAC selections included Chambliss along with tailback Kannon Katzer and three offensive linemen in Bryce George, Lawrence Hattar and Jarvis Windom. Ferris State also had three earn all-conference first team accolades on the defensive side in defensive tackle Victor Nelson, linebacker Iosefa Saipaia and defensive back Lento Smith.

The Bulldogs' second-team All-GLIAC honorees featured wide receiver Emari O'Brien, kicker Mitchell Middleton, defensive end Tyrone Fowler, defensive tackle Deron Irving-Bey, linebacker Jalen Jones, defensive back Justin Payoute and cornerback Ahlston Ware.

Ferris State had five players earn GLIAC Honorable Mention laurels in wide receiver Cam Underwood, offensive linemen Tim Anderson and Bob Anderson, linebacker Jason Williams and safety Gyasi Mattison.
By being chosen as the GLIAC Player of the Year, Chambliss is the fifth Bulldog player in the last six seasons to claim the distinction and the seventh in the past nine seasons. Overall, a total of 11 Ferris State players have garnered the honor.

Annese earned GLIAC Coach of the Year honors for the fifth time in his Bulldog tenure.

Annese led the Bulldogs to their first GLIAC Championship since 2021 as the Bulldogs completed an unbeaten conference season to claim this year's crown with a 7-0 league mark.

Under Annese's direction, the Bulldogs also secured the number one seed in Super Region Three and are presently ranked first nationally by D2Football.com.

After suffering a season-opening setback at Pittsburg State University, Annese led FSU to 10 consecutive wins to close out the regular-season. The Bulldogs also earned their nation-leading 10th consecutive NCAA Division II Playoff berth this year and claimed wins over West Michigan rivals Grand Valley State University and Davenport to bring home the Anchor-Bone and Calder City Classic trophies.

The league championship was the sixth under Annese's direction for the Bulldogs.

Chambliss, of Grand Rapids, guided the nation's top-ranked Bulldogs to their first GLIAC Championship since 2021.

The standout signal caller claimed the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors five times this year and also earned the D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Week Award.

Chambliss has accounted for 33 touchdowns, including 19 in the air and 14 on the ground this season.
He's completed 169 of 276 passes for 2,203 yards while leading the Bulldogs' rushing attack with 615 yards on 107 carries. His play has helped the Bulldogs roll up 41.7 points per game along with 477.6 yards of total offense a contest. The Bulldogs earned the top seed in Super Region Three and a first-round playoff bye.