Ferris State Alum Zach Sieler Promoted To Baltimore Ravens 53-man Roster

Big Rapids, Mich. - Former Ferris State University football standout Zach Sieler (Pinckney), who became FSU's first-ever National Football League (NFL) draft choice in 2018, was called up to the Baltimore Ravens' active 53-man roster and made his season debut in the squad's 26-23 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road Sunday.

Sieler was promoted from the practice squad Saturday and then activated for Sunday's game against the Steelers. A Ravens seventh-round pick in 2018, Sieler was among the final roster cuts in September before being signed to the team's practice squad for the second-straight year.

The Bulldogs have had 10 different players in NFL rookie or training camps over the past two years. Currently, former DB Tavierre Thomas is also on the Cleveland Browns' 53-man roster while four other past standouts are presently still on NFL practice squads - TE Jason Vander Laan (New England), LB Brady Sheldon (Green Bay), WR Malik Taylor (Green Bay) and DT Justin Zimmer (Atlanta).

Sieler graduated from FSU in December 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering technology and elected to forgo his final collegiate season to enter the draft after leading FSU to back-to-back NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal appearances in his collegiate career.

Sieler was a consensus All-America choice each of his final two seasons and twice received the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Defensive Lineman of the Year honor along with being chosen in both 2016 and 2017 as the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Super Region Defensive Player of the Year. He began his FSU career as a walk-on before becoming one of the nation's top defensive linemen over his final two seasons.

In his final year, Sieler led the Bulldogs with 21 tackles for loss (-74 yards) and seven quarterback sacks (-46 yards) despite consistently drawing multiple blockers while ranking third in total tackles (79) in addition to forcing two fumbles, recovering two fumbles, breaking up two passes and blocking a kick. Along with being a consensus first team All-American, he was also chosen as a national finalist for the Cliff Harris National Small College Defensive Player of the Year honor for the second consecutive year. Sieler was also a three-time GLIAC All-Academic Team honoree.

As a sophomore in 2016, Sieler set new school records with 29.5 tackles for loss (-164 yards) and 19.5 sacks (-138 yards) while helping FSU to the school's second-ever NCAA Division II National Semifinal appearance. He ranked among the nation's top five players in both categories and led the GLIAC while also ranking as FSU's third-leading tackler with a personal career-high 80 stops, including 37 solo hits. Sieler added a team-high five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a blocked kick and a pass breakup while starting all 15 games in 2016.

In 2016, Sieler was tabbed as the Football Gazette National Defensive Player of the Year in addition to earning his first of two mentions as the region's top defensive player. In each of his final two seasons, he garnered consensus All-America recognition from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), D2Football.com, Football Gazette, Associated Press and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association among other sources.

The three-year letterwinner, who initially redshirted as a freshman in 2013 before sitting out in 2014 and then playing in 11 games as a reserve in 2015, closed his FSU career with 176 total tackles in 39 games with 33 sacks for minus 219 yards along with 58 tackles for loss resulting in 274 lost yards. He matched former Bulldog standout Jim Lenz (1990-93) as the school's all-time sack leader and broke former standout Ed Philion's school career record with his 58 tackles for loss. His younger brother, Adam, is currently an offensive lineman in the Bulldog program.

Sieler's play and leadership helped FSU finish the 2017 season with an 11-2 overall record. FSU's 11 wins marked the fourth consecutive year in which the Bulldogs had achieved the feat, which represented the first time in school history in which FSU had done so over four-straight years. Over the four plus seasons at FSU during Sieler's career, the Bulldogs recorded a 45-7 overall record and also won a pair of conference championships.