Justin Zimmer // Football // Ferris State
Ferris State University junior defensive end Justin Zimmer led the Bulldogs on the defensive side of the ball as FSU won its first GLIAC Championship in 15 years, made the school's first NCAA Playoff appearance in 18 years and posted the best overall mark in 19 seasons. Zimmer also excels in the classroom to the tune of a 3.89 GPA in Business Management Marketing and Teaching.

A national finalist for both the Cliff Harris Small College Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year honor, Zimmer earned All-GLIAC First Team recognition for the second consecutive year and also was chosen to the Daktronics All-America Second Team, becoming both an All-American on the field and in the classroom this season as he was also named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America First Team.

The two-time first team all-conference pick led the Bulldogs with 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2014 while turning in 76 total tackles, including 31 solo hits, to go with five pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Zimmer served as a team captain for the first Ferris State team to go 11-0 in the regular season in 106 years of Bulldog Football and was an all-region choice by both Daktronics and Beyond Sports Network.