Trinidad Chambliss: you know the name, and if you don’t, where have you been?

The 24-year-old quarterback has been all anyone can talk about since he was named QB1 for Ole Miss in 2025. But before that, in 2024, he led his Ferris State Bulldogs to their third NCAA D2 Football Championship title.

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Although his journey as an elite quarterback began way back when, the National Championship is a key part of the Grand Rapids, Mich., native’s transfer to Ole Miss to compete under then-head coach Lane Kiffin.

Chambliss decided to become a Rebel in mid-April 2025. He wasn’t expected to play, but starting QB Austin Simmons succumbed to injury in the second game of the 2025 season. Chambliss took over the starting position and never let go.

Since then, he has put together a résumé that requires a length of pages. The 2025 SEC Newcomer of the Year may be playing at an elite D1 institution now, but his skills were crafted at the D2 level.

Chambliss may be the current talk of the town, but several other athletes have risen to similar stardom following stints at their small-school programs.

Since we’re talking about Ferris State, we might as well stay on topic and talk about three other GLIAC athletes who made it big.

Jahdae Walker, WR, Chicago Bears (Grand Valley State, Texas A&M)

Before he played for the Bears, he played for the Aggies, and before he played for the Aggies, he played for the Lakers.

Jahdae Walker spent his first two seasons of college eligibility at Grand Valley State. While dressed in Lakers blue, he accumulated 651 receiving yards on 32 total receptions, scoring four times during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Walker appeared in every game while at Texas A&M with a total of 16 starts (of 26 games). He caught the ball 64 times for 935 yards and four scores. 

The Cleveland, Ohio native signed with the Chicago Bears in May 2025 as an Undrafted Free Agent. In his rookie year, he had six receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 16 against Green Bay, Walker was responsible for agame-tying reception on fourth down with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

This season, Walker has seen action in two preseason games as well as the Bears’ season opener. He has completed three passes for 49 yards and one touchdown.

Trevor Nowaske, LB, Detroit Lions (Saginaw Valley State)

In today’s era of college football, it’s not often you see an athlete spend the totality of their eligibility with one program. 

Canton, Mich. native Trevor Nowaske wasn’t always a Detroit Lion, but he was always a dog. Nowaske’s Christmas came early in 2016, as he committed to Saginaw Valley State on Dec. 23, 2016. He began turf work in the fall of 2017, but redshirted his first season. He appeared in every game his redshirt-freshman and sophomore years, making two starts in 2019 as a redshirt-sophomore. Through his first two years, he posted 40 total tackles (13 solo) and 1.0 tackle for loss.

After COVID-19 cancelled his third season, Nowaske exploded on the field. During his redshirt-junior and senior years, he logged 88 solo tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss each season. In his final collegiate season as a Cardinal, Nowaske had seven pass defenses, four interceptions and 1.0 sack.

Nowaske started his rookie season on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Saginaw Valley State in 2023. He was waived and claimed by the Arizona Cardinals in December before the Lions claimed him again. Since 2024, he has tallied 55 tackles (31 solo), 3.0 sacks and one interception through 34 non-preseason matchups.

Zach Sieler, DT, Miami Dolphins (Ferris State)

Zach Sieler has been a strong defensive force in the NFL since 2018. However, he began his career on the gridiron as a walk-on at Ferris State in 2013.

The Pinckney, Mich. native finished his senior year with 80 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks. He was named National Defensive Player of the Year by several organizations and was a consensus All-American and All-Region selection. Following a very successful senior season, Sieler became the first-ever Bulldog to be drafted by an NFL franchise in 2018.

The Baltimore Ravens selected the defensive tackle/defensive end in the seventh round (238th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. Sieler spent less than two seasons in Maryland before the Miami Dolphins claimed him off waivers in 2019. He has been #PhinsUp ever since.

Through nine years in the NFL, Sieler has recorded 364 tackles (203 solo), 35.5 sacks, 2 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 16 passes defended, 5 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. In 2023, he set a franchise record with 10.0 sacks in a single season (most sacks by a DT). He doubled down on this in 2024, tying the franchise record he set the year prior with another 10.0.

Ferris State retired the defensive lineman’s #96 jersey on April 25, 2025.

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