December 12, 2025
Ferris State's Tim Anderson earns Gene Upshaw Award as nation's top DII lineman
Ferris State University football is home to the nation's top NCAA Division II lineman for the fourth time since 2019, as senior offensive tackle Tim Anderson has been chosen as the winner of the 2025 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club.
Anderson now joins former Bulldogs Caleb Murphy (2022), Dylan Pasquali (2021), and Austin Edwards (2019) as the recent winners of the award.
The Gene Upshaw Award is nominated by and voted on by the nation's NCAA Division II sports information directors. All nominees are seniors or graduate players/transfers and are linemen on either side of the ball at either offensive tackle, guard, or center, or defensive tackle, guard, or end.
Anderson, a native of Rochester, Mich., has led 2025 GLIAC champion Ferris State to a 14-0 record with one of the nation's most powerful offenses. A three-year starter at right tackle, Anderson was named D2CCA First-Team All-Super Region 3, First-Team All-GLIAC, and the GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2025.
The Bulldogs lead D-II with 53.8 points per game in 2025, rushing for 306.5 yards per game and 63 touchdowns on the ground. Anderson is part of an offensive line that includes his twin brother, Bob, along with Dayne Arnett, Jarvis Windom and Ben Przytula; together they have allowed only 17 sacks in 14 games while producing a 1,000-yard rusher in Chase Carter and an exceptional seven backs with 300+ rushing yards this season.
With Anderson's selection, the Bulldogs join rival Grand Valley State as the only two schools in the country to now have four Gene Upshaw Award recipients since the award's inception in 2004.
Anderson and the Bulldogs remain in the hunt for a national title, as they prepare for the NCAA DII Playoffs Semifinals matchup against Newberry on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Big Rapids.
2025 Gene Upshaw Award Final Balloting (in order)
- Tim Anderson, OT, Ferris State (winner)
- Jake Mitchell, OT, Harding (runner-up)
- Michael Shimek, DE, Ashland
- Joe Cooper, OT, Slippery Rock
- Ryan Schernecke, OT, Kutztown
- Slade Edwards, OC, Central Washington
- Will Hart, OG, Wingate
- Avery Swinton, OT, Catawba