Jan 19, 2025, 6:00 PM UTC
Dream Bowl
2024 Ferris State vs Grand Valley State

Who Are The Greatest GVSU Football Players In History?

Who Are The Greatest GVSU Football Players In History?

The Anchor-Bone Classic is this week, and many amazing players have helped make the GVSU-Ferris State rivalry so intense. Learn more about the Lakers.

Oct 24, 2024 by Matt Cannizzaro
Who Are The Greatest GVSU Football Players In History?

Grand Valley State and Ferris State have become the faces of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, battling annually for control of the might GLIAC, while also helping to catapult the conference into the national spotlight. 

Since 2002, they’ve combined for six NCAA Division II national championships, and when they meet this week for the latest edition of their fiery rivalry, the Anchor-Bone Classic, they’ll do so as the No. 1- and No. 3-ranked teams in the nation. 

GVSU and Ferris State will meet Saturday at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Michigan, for the next chapter in their epic story. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Eastern, live on FloFootball.

To maintain the level of play they have for decades, the Lakers and Bulldogs have had to maintain a steady stream of incoming talent, get buy-in from those players and continue to build on a foundation of tradition and success.

For Ferris State, the groundwork was laid more than 125 years ago, while varsity football at Grand Valley State has only been a thing since the early 1970s.

That said, GVSU wasted no time catching up.

Even though the Lakers don’t have the most wins overall, their success in a short time has included a record winning streak of 40 games, 19 conference championships, 19 seasons with 10 or more wins, a winning percentage of .904 from 2000-2009 and all-time record of 448-151-3, making GVSU the winningest FBS, FCS or Division II program in history by percentage (.744).

That’s probably a lot of pressure for any recruit or incoming player – even for second-year head coach Scott Wooster – but there likely is an immense amount of pride that comes with being part of the legacy, too.

Wooster was the offensive line coach/run-game coordinator for three years before being named head coach in 2023, replacing Matt Mitchell, who won 117 of his 148 games from 2010-2022, finishing one win shy of the team record held by Brian Kelly (1991-2003).

Wooster first season in charge was a successful 11-2 effort that included a 49-28 win in his first Anchor-Bone Classic as head coach and a bonus victory over Ferris State in the first round of the Division II Playoffs (21-14).

Grand Valley State heads into this year’s Anchor-Bone Classic at 7-0 overall and coming off a 16-9 win over Saginaw Valley State. Ferris State is 6-1 after a 51-13 rout of Michigan Tech in Week 8. GVSU and FSU are tied for the top spot in the GLIAC standings at 3-0.

How To Watch The Ferris State Vs. Grand Valley State Football Stream

Ferris State and GVSU will meet Saturday at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Michigan, for the next edition of the storied Anchor-Bone Classic. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Eastern, live on FloFootball.

The Ferris State Bulldogs vs. Grand Valley State Lakers football game is streaming live on FloFootball and the FloSports app.

Highlights, replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms. 

More Anchor-Bone Classic Coverage

Who Are Some Of The Standout Grand Valley State Football Players From Over The Years?

Since 1990, the start of the postseason awards for the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference/GLIAC (more about the history below), the conference player of the year has been a GVSU Laker six times. The team also has reeled in a variety of other awards and accolades:

MIFC/GLIAC Player Of The Year

  • 2023 – Cade Peterson (quarterback)
  • 2006 – Cullen Finnerty (quarterback)
  • 2002 – Curt Anes (quarterback)
  • 2001 – Curt Anes (quarterback)
  • 1998 – Jeff Fox (quarterback)
  • 1990 – Eric Lynch (running back)

GLIAC Offensive Lineman Of The Year

  • 2023 – Garrett Carroll
  • 2022 – Quinton Barrow
  • 2013 – Matt Armstrong
  • 2012 – Tim Lelito
  • 2010 – Cameron Bradfield
  • 2009 – Nick McDonald
  • 2008 – Billy Eisenhardt
  • 2007 – Brandon Barnes
  • 2006 – Brandon Barnes
  • 2005 – Josh Bourke
  • 2002 – Dale Westrick
  • 1994 – Mike Sheldon
  • 1991 – Chris Tiede
  • 1990 – Chris Tiede

GLIAC Defensive Lineman Of The Year

  • 2023 – Christian McCarroll
  • 2022 – Christian McCarroll
  • 2015 – Matt Judon
  • 2009 – Danny Richard
  • 2008 – Dan Skuta (shared)
  • 2006 – Michael McFadden
  • 2005 – Michael McFadden
  • 2004 – Keyonta Marshall
  • 2003 – Keyonta Marshall
  • 2002 – Keyonta Marshall
  • 1999 – Dan Gibbons

GLIAC Offensive Back Of The Year

  • 2022 – Cade Peterson
  • 2016 – Marty Carter
  • 2009 – Brad Iciek
  • 2008 – James Berezik
  • 2005 – Cullen Finnerty
  • 2002 – David Kircus (shared)
  • 2001 – David Kircus (shared)
  • 1998 – Jeff Fox (shared)
  • 1997 – Jeff Fox (shared)
  • 1990 – Eric Lynch

GLIAC Defensive Back Of The Year

  • 2022 – Abe Swanson
  • 2007 – Brandon Carr
  • 2004 – Lucius Hawkins (shared)
  • 2003 – Scott Mackey
  • 2002 – Scott Mackey

Since the introduction of the GLIAC Freshman of the Year Award in 2001, Grand Valley State has earned the honor three times:

  • 2007 – Jimmy Berezik
  • 2004 – Demonte Collins
  • 2003 – Cullen Finnerty

Other Awards For Grand Valley State Football Players

Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award

*Awarded to the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in Division II football since 2004.

  • 2015 – Matt Judon
  • 2007 – Brandon Barnes
  • 2006 – Mike McFadden
  • 2005 – Mike McFadden

Harlon Hill Trophy

*Presented to the nation’s top performer/the most valuable player in Division II football since 1986.

  • 2002 – Curt Anes

Some In-House Grand Valley State Career Superlatives Through 2023

  • Carries – Reggie Spearmon (792) from 1999-2002
  • Rushing Yards – Reggie Spearmon (3,847) from 1999-2002
  • Rushing Touchdowns – Eric Lynch (58) from 1988-1991
  • Completions – Bart Williams (807) from 2015-2018
  • Attempts – Bart Williams (1,396) from 2015-2018
  • Passing Yards – Bart Williams (12,410) from 2015-2018
  • Touchdown Passes – Bart Williams (126) from 2015-2018
  • Interceptions Thrown – Guy Schuler (49) from 1983-1987
  • Receptions – David Kircus (241) from 1999-2002
  • Receiving Yards – David Kircus (4,523) from 1999-2002
  • Receiving TDs – David Kircus (80) from 1999-2002
  • Total Offense – Cullen Finnerty (13,288) from 2003-2006
  • Points – David Kircus (464) from 1999-2002
  • Field Goals Made – Joel Schipper (46) from 2013-2016
  • Interceptions – Scott Mackey (16) from 2000-2003
  • Sacks – Matt Judon (35) from 2010-2015
  • Most Wins By A Coach – Brian Kelly (118) from 1991-2003

To see all of the GVSU career, season and single-game records, as well as a list of all-time All-Americans and other great facts, click HERE.

Fast Facts About The GVSU Lakers

  • Cullen Finnerty is one of three players in Division II history with 2,000 rushing yards (2,370) and 10,000 passing yards (10,905). This was done from 2003-2006, and he is third on the list.

  • Curt Anes owns the Division II record for most yards gained per play in a season (10.1), highest passing efficiency rating points in a season for a Division II passer with a minimum of 100 completions (221.6) and highest percentage of passes for touchdowns (17.7), all done in 2001.

  • Bart Williams is one of two Division II quarterbacks in history with touchdown passes in 46 consecutive games, done from 2015-2018. He shared the record with Mike Reilly of Central Washington.

  • David Kircus owns the Division II records for touchdown passes caught in a season (35), done in 2002, and per game (2.8), done in 2001. He also owns the records for most consecutive games catching a touchdown pass (24), done in across 2001 and 2002, and highest percentage of passes caught for touchdowns (34.2), done from 1999-2002.

  • David Kircus and Reginald Spearmon own the records for the most points scored by two players on the same team in a season (356) and most touchdowns scored by two players on the same team (59), done in 2002. They also set the career mark with 125 from 1999-2002.

  • Mike Palomino shares the Division II record for most touchdown passes by a tight end in a game (five), done in 1991.

  • As a team, GVSU set the record for most yards gained per pass attempt (11.5) and most touchdown passes per game (5.1), done in 2001. The same year, the team also set the mark for highest passing efficiency rating points with (222.5), most points per game (58.4) and most touchdowns per game (8.2).

  • GVSU owns the Division II record for most consecutive wins (40), which came from August 2005 to December 2007, as well as the most consecutive victories over a Division II opponent (40) during the same window.

  • GVSU had a record-tying 15 wins (counting postseason) during the 2006 season.

  • GVSU entered the 2024 season with the highest winning percentage in Division II history for teams with at least 20 seasons of play (.747), as well as the highest winning percentage (.904) and overall wins (122) from 2000-2009.

GVSU Lakers In The NFL

For the 2024 season, linebacker Matthew Judon is seeing reps for the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and is in his ninth professional season. He has played for Baltimore, the New England Patriots and now Atlanta. He has been selected to the NFL Pro Bowl four times. 

Judon was the most recent of eight former GVSU players who have been drafted by NFL teams, while nearly 30 Lakers in all have seen time in the league.

About The GLIAC

Football debuted in the GLIAC in 1973, with three teams – Ferris State, Grand Valley State and Northwood – and expansion began the following year. 

Teams came and went through 1989, when the conference dropped football as a sponsored sport, a separation that saw the creation of a new football-only conference, the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference.

After nine years of action and success, the MIFC teams rejoined the GLIAC and continued to bring the conference notoriety on the national level. 

Since the turn of the century, Grand Valley State and Ferris State have proudly carried the GLIAC banner, combining for 16 conference championships and six Division II national titles. Their annual Anchor-Bone Classic has been what ultimately has decided the GLIAC champion for the last five seasons.

Since the inception of the GLIAC, they have hoisted the conference championship trophy a combined 30 times.

GVSU had a ridiculous run that included a national runner-up finish in 2001, championships in four of the next five years (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and another second-place effort in 2009, while Ferris State was the runner-up in 2018 and claimed national titles in 2021 and 2022. 

With the addition of Roosevelt for the 2024 campaign, the GLIAC is back up to eight teams – Davenport, Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Roosevelt, Saginaw Valley State and Wayne State.

AFCA Division II Football Rankings For Week 9

Oct. 21, 2024

  1. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (27) - Prev. 2
  2. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (3) - Prev. 3
  3. Ferris St. (Mich.) - Prev. 4
  4. Kutztown (Pa.) - Prev. 5
  5. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) - Prev. 9
  6. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) - Prev. 7
  7. Harding (Ark.) - Prev. 1
  8. Western Colorado - Prev. 8
  9. Central Oklahoma - Prev. 11
  10. Colorado School of Mines - Prev. 12
  11. Charleston (W.Va.) - Prev. 13
  12. Colorado St.-Pueblo - Prev. 14
  13. Minnesota St. - Prev. 15
  14. Emporia St. (Kan.) - Prev. 16
  15. Slippery Rock (Pa.) - Prev. 6
  16. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) - Prev. 17
  17. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) - Prev. 18
  18. West Alabama - Prev. 10
  19. Johnson C. Smith (N.C.) - Prev. 20
  20. Central Washington - Prev. 21
  21. Indianapolis (Ind.) - Prev. 19
  22. Southern Arkansas - Prev. 24
  23. West Florida - Prev. 23
  24. Delta St. (Miss.) - Prev. NR
  25. Augustana (S.D.) - Prev. NR

Dropped Out: Frostburg St. (Md.) (22), Henderson St. (Ark.) (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Angelo St. (Tex.), 22; Findlay (Ohio), 22; California (Pa.), 21; Virginia Union, 20; Wayne St. (Neb.), 16; Wingate (N.C.), 10; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 8; Colorado Mesa, 7; Indiana (Pa.), 7; New Haven (Conn.), 7; Davenport (Mich.), 6; Frostburg St. (Md.), 6; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 4; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Emory & Henry (Va.), 1; Western Oregon, 1.

Watch Division II Football On FloFootball

There’s Division II action broadcasting live on FloFootball each week of the college football season, and that includes all of the GLIAC games. Subscribe to watch.

GLIAC Games For Week 9

Saturday, Oct. 26

All Times Eastern

What Teams Have Won The NCAA Division II Football Championship?

The first NCAA Division II national champion for football was crowned in 1973. Louisiana Tech took the title with a 34-0 win over Western Kentucky.

What teams have claimed the titles since? Who has the most titles?

Read more: All Champions | A Look Back At The First 50 Years 

Recent Division II playoff brackets: 2023 | 2022 | 2021

Harding is the reigning Division II football champion. The Bisons defeated the Colorado School of Mines 38-7 last December for their first national championship. 

Ferris State won the title consecutively in 2021 and 2022, while Grand Valley State won the championship game four times in five years from 2002-2006. 

When Are The 2024 NCAA Division II Football Playoffs?

The 2024 playoffs begin on Nov. 23 and end on Dec. 21 at District Stadium in McKinney, Texas. 

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