Ferris State Football Lands Nation's Top D2 Recruiting Class According To 247Sports
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University Bulldogs have landed the nation's top-ranked football recruiting class in 2024 as ranked by 247Sports, which is one of the country's leading recruiting sites.
The Bulldogs, who signed 37 student-athletes during National Signing Day two weeks ago, came in tops among all NCAA Division II schools in 247Sports' final rankings following signing day for this year's 2024 class.
Along with being the top D2 team in the listing, Ferris State was also 142nd overall among all FBS, FCS and Division II schools in the country, topping many NCAA Division I institutions. For reference, there are 134 total FBS football schools in the country and another 128 FCS teams along with 165 NCAA Division II football programs nationally.
The 247Sports rankings are compiled by the company's recruiting analysts and based on the total number of blue chip prospects. Ferris State had four signees ranked as highly-regarded three-star signees by 247Sports. Ferris State was the only Division II school to place among the top 175 in the final listing.
Since head coach Tony Annese took over the FSU program in 2012, the Bulldogs have had the nation's best class several times based on opinions from various recruiting services and sites. The Bulldogs have annually assembled one of the top classes in the country for over the past decade.
The Bulldogs, who have reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs a nation-leading nine consecutive years, landed a stellar and loaded 2024 recruiting class filled with highly-talented student-athletes displaying impressive credentials along with championship experience. The class was unveiled on National Signing Day, which took place on Feb. 7.
Ferris State reloaded yet again by assembling a deep and talented recruiting class featuring 37 individuals, including 25 from right here at home in the state of Michigan. FSU also continued its highly-successful pipeline to Florida by landing an outstanding group of 11 signees from the Sunshine State in addition to one from Ohio. A large majority of the Bulldogs' signees helped lead their respective teams to state playoff appearances and championship success while most also received significant NCAA Division I interest or scholarship offers.
Ferris State, which captured back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships in 2021 and 2022, signed 20 individuals on the defensive side of the ball along with 15 on the offensive side in addition to a kicker.
Overall, Ferris State tallied 15 players expected to begin their collegiate careers on the offensive side of the ball along with 21 on the defensive side. The offensive group includes one quarterback, three running backs, six wide receivers or slot receivers along with five offensive linemen. Defensively, the Bulldogs signed 10 potential defensive backs, six defensive linemen and five linebackers along with a kicker in a balanced class. Many of the individuals in the class are talented performers with the ability to play multiple positions.
Over the past three seasons of action, the Bulldogs own a 36-4 overall record and FSU has reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs nine consecutive years and counting. Ferris State has also reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals five times in the past seven seasons of action and ranks as the country's winningest program over the past nine full seasons in D2 Football. FSU is 63-6 over the last four seasons of on-field action.
Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all collegiate programs in Michigan at 123-20 (.860) overall since the arrival of Annese as head coach in 2012.
For complete coverage and information on this year's signing class, please visit this link:
FerrisStateBulldogs.com/FSUNSD24