FEATURE: Versatile Carson Gulker Loves Just Playing Football Again For #1 Ferris State

By Sandy Gholston

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Carson Gulker flashed a smile as his head coach commented about the multiple roles the former full-time quarterback now plays in the high-powered offense of the nationally top-ranked Ferris State football team.

"He's our quarterback, slash, running back, slash, tight end, slash, H-back, slash … pretty boy," head coach Tony Annese said, grinning, during the post-game press conference following a 70-35 home win for the Bulldogs over Northern Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Top Taggart Field.

A Zeeland native who prepped at Zeeland West High School, Gulker took the compliment smiling as his play on the field does the real talking. When questioned about his many roles on the gridiron, after starting his college career as a productive quarterback putting up big numbers, he shared his joy about returning to the field after an injury wiped out nearly his entire 2024 season.

"I'm having a lot of fun with it," he said. "People ask me what I play, and I just say 'football' at this point. I'm loving it. I'm having a blast just being able to make plays and being out there with the guys."

Nine games into the 2025 season, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Gulker has 19 receptions for 314 yards and four touchdowns in a receiver role while being an effective blocker. Carrying the ball, he has rushed 17 times for 112 yards with a touchdown. During the opportunities he has had to play quarterback, Gulker is 4-of-10 passing for 45 yards.

During his first two seasons as a Bulldog, Gulker was a dual-threat quarterback who played 15 games as a freshman in 2022, completing 46-of-77 passes for 701 yards with four touchdowns. As a sophomore, he completed 50-of-80 passes for 722 yards with 10 touchdowns.

As a junior in 2024, however, he suffered a career-changing moment. Gulker suffered a broken fibula and tibia during a Sept. 7 home game against Lake Erie College. The injury ended his season and put him on a painful recovery path through the winter and spring. Gulker played a supportive role as Trinidad Chambliss, who is now lighting it up in the Southeastern Conference at Ole Miss while being discussed as a Heisman Trophy candidate, stepped in and flourished as the full-time quarterback and led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Division II National Championship.

Returning in 2025, however, Gulker had a team-first attitude. He was ready and willing to play whatever role that Annese, and the staff, needed him to fill as redshirt freshman Wyatt Bower, a native of Corunna who made big strides during spring, was prepared to soar as the starting quarterback.

Following a 38-31 win over Grand Valley State in the Anchor-Bone Classic on Oct. 25, Annese had high praise for Gulker, one of the ultimate team-first guys.

"An unsung hero for us, I mean Wyatt (Bower) was super, but for me one of the unsung heroes in this game was Carson Gulker," Annese said. "He made so many plays. We moved him into that position, thinking he was an NFL-caliber athlete. And if NFL players or organizations don't know this, then they should start looking, because he's a legit athlete. I was very impressed with the way he played."

Gulker sees himself as a football player who will do whatever is necessary to help his team be successful.

After the events of last season, he takes nothing for granted.

"Yeah, it's honestly just been super fun," Gulker said. "You know, you miss a year and then some little things that you might have taken for granted, just like being out there. I just like being out there and doing whatever I can to help the team. If that means I have to go fill water bottles, I'll do it. If I can run out there on special teams, I'll do that, too. It is just fun being out there and having football back in my life."

Being part of a supportive quarterback room where everyone puts the team's needs first may have made this transition smoother.

"I think that's part of what makes this place so unique," Gulker said. "We're all competing for the same position, but off the field, we all have a love for each other. We're there for each other on and off the field. So, I think that's a really cool thing about the culture we have here at Ferris State."

The Bulldogs, 5-0 and in first place in the GLIAC, travel to University Center to take on Saginaw Valley State in a league game on Saturday, Nov. 8. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.