December 5, 2025

Ferris State football’s Tim Anderson is a finalist for Gene Upshaw DII Lineman of the Year Award

Action shot of Tim and Bob Anderson in pass protection — Tim Anderson (#72, left) with brother Bob Anderson (#74, right) defending quarterback Wyatt Bower in the 38-31 victory over rival Grand Valley State University on Oct. 25.

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. —

The Ferris State University football team is celebrating multiple honors amid postseason action, with eight Bulldogs receiving 2025 Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region Three honors, and one Bulldog in the running for the 2025 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award.

Ferris State senior offensive tackle Tim Anderson was tabbed as one of eight national finalists for the 2025 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club.

The eight finalists were part of a group of 29 nominees from all four of the NCAA Division II Super Regions, with two finalists from each region voted on by sports information directors nationwide. All nominees must be seniors or graduate students (including transfers) and play as an offensive tackle, guard, or center- or defensive tackle, guard, or end.

Anderson, and defensive end Michael Shimek of Ashland University, were selected as the finalists for Super Region Three.

Anderson’s most recent honor is one of a handful throughout his career: D2CCA All-Super Region Three First Team, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, and First-Team All-GLIAC.

He follows a long list of former Bulldogs who have been considered for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, including past winners Caleb Murphy (2022), Dylan Pasquali (2021), and Austin Edwards (2019).

The award is named in honor of Upshaw, who was an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders, and later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. Upshaw, a former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility. The award is presented annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club.

This year’s winner will be voted upon by NCAA DII SIDs and announced on Friday, Dec. 12.

Ferris State continues to dominate both on the field and among honors list, with eight players named to 2025 D2CCA All-Super Region Three honors this week.

The D2CCA All-Region Teams are determined by votes from SIDs from across the region. The First Team selections will advance to the national ballot to be considered for All-America honors from the organization.

The Bulldogs' eight honorees were the most of any program in Super Region Three, as the next closest teams had only four total recipients. In addition, FSU had five First Team standouts on the list, which was also the most of any school in the region.

D2CAA All-Super Region Three First Team

Tim Anderson (offense)
Jarvis Windom (offense)
Justin Payoute (defense)
Ahlston Ware (defense)
Kailib Davis (defense)

D2CAA All-Super Region Three Second Team

Carson Gulker (offense)
Bob Anderson (offense)
Isaiah Byars (defense)

The Bulldogs had eight of 16 representatives on one of the two All-Super Region Three squads from the GLIAC and five of the eight first-team choices.

Ferris State will host Minnesota State in the NCAA DII National Quarterfinals on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Top Taggart Field. Kickoff for the Super Region Three Championship Game is set for 1 p.m.