Ferris Quarterback Jason Vander Laan
WHO VANDERLAAN? Ferris Flash Burns Texas Team for 5 TDs
Bulldogs Face Off Grand Valley in 2nd Tourney Round
November 24, 2015
By: Dave Rogers
Ferris State Bulldog Football and Jason Vander Laan: Everybody's a believer now!
The Ferris State University football team, which won its first NCAA Playoff game in 19 seasons last weekend, will host West Michigan rival Grand Valley State in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Division II Football Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 28, at FSU's Top Taggart Field.
Quarterback Jason Vander Laan scored five touchdowns in defeating Texas A&M - Commerce 48-30 in the first playoff game last weekend.
Vander Laan already had set the NCAA record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in any division with a 53-yard touchdown run against Ohio Dominican on Oct. 17.
With the score, Vander Laan broke Wofford quarterback Shawn Graves' 23-year-old record of 5,128 rushing yards.
The Ferris football squad capped off a second consecutive unbeaten regular season and won a second-straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as the Bulldogs closed the 2015 regular season campaign in impressive fashion with a 38-7 triumph over Walsh on Saturday (Nov. 14) at FSU's Top Taggart Field.
The unbeaten Bulldogs improved to 10-0 overall and won their 25th consecutive regular-season contest by scoring 38 points in the opening half to build a commanding lead over the Walsh Cavaliers. FSU then cruised to the win in the second half as several key starters rested much of the way.
The victory came on Senior Day as FSU honored a 17-member class prior to their final regular-season home game that proceeded to win their 36th game in a Bulldog uniform. They now own a 36-8 mark in their four seasons at FSU.
Kickoff for the first-ever postseason matchup between the Bulldogs and the Lakers is set for 12 p.m. (ET) Saturday in Big Rapids. Tickets will go on sale Monday morning at 9 a.m. (ET).
Earlier this season, FSU beat GVSU 61-24 in the Anchor-Bone Classic during regular-season action in Allendale and the Bulldogs have won the last four series' meetings to date heading into the regional semifinal game.
There are hardly enough superlatives to describe Vander Laan's career:
*2013 All-America Selection; Three-Time All-GLIAC Pick;
*Only active QB in college football at any level with 50-plus rushing & passing TD's;
*Has more career rushing yards than any other active QB in college football at any level;
*Set NCAA Single-Season All-Time Record For Most Rushing Yards by a QB in 2013
*Ranks among top five active NCAA career rushing leaders in D2 football
*Ran & passed for 1,000 plus yards three-straight seasons (has 3 of the 24 times in D2 history)
*Owns GLIAC all-time records for rush yards by QB in game (284), season (1,607) & career (4,411)
Dozens of college coaches took a pass on the 6-foot-4, 244-pound quarterback out of tiny Chicago Christian.
To be fair, he was 6-3, 210 his senior year at the Palos Heights school. No matter, he was a versatile athlete, starring on the football field and basketball court for the Knights. He was the lone weapon on a football team that finished 2-7 his senior season. In basketball, he earned the Suburban Christian Conference Player of the Year award.
Additionally, he was an excellent student, boasting a 3.8 GPA and a 27 on the ACT.
Last season while leading the Bulldogs to the program's first undefeated regular season (11-0), he was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Player of the Year and Division II Scholar Athlete of the Year and earned the Harlon Hill Trophy, the NCAA D-II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
While Vander Laan has positioned himself for similar honors this season, having passed for 1,701 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 954 yards and 14 TDs, he'd gladly trade every individual accolade for a national championship.
"It was awesome to win the Harlon Hill Award and everything, but I just want to win a national championship," Vander Laan said.
Once the football season ends, Vander Laan will focus on the NFL draft. Dozens of teams have been scouting him and not necessarily as a quarterback.
Remember his size resembles Brian Urlacher as much as Cam Newton.
Unlike Tim Tebow, a devout Christian with outstanding running ability, Vander Laan would gladly change positions if it leads to a career in the NFL.
"I have absolutely no problem changing positions," he said. "Playing in the NFL has been a dream of mine since I was 3. Right now I'm focused on leading this team to a national champion(ship)."
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