Ferris State鈥檚 DeShaun Thrower is having a really good 2018.
The junior defensive back intercepted a pass last weekend to end any question of a Minnesota State comeback and propel the Bulldogs to this Saturday鈥檚 DII football championship game against Valdosta State. That will be his second championship in 10 months after he came off the bench to sink two 3s in Ferris State鈥檚 71-69 victory over Northern State for the Bulldogs first DII basketball title in March.
How鈥檚 that for less than a year?
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鈥淚t really didn鈥檛 hit me until I saw all the attention on Twitter,鈥 Thrower told sifoeeprocess.com. 鈥淚 know I鈥檓 getting a lot of attention for doing it, but I actually want to win both. That鈥檚 my focus right now, winning it all and not just being in it.鈥
So, how did Thrower, a Muskegon, Michigan native, make his way to the top of the DII world with Ferris State?
CHAPTER 1: A quick stop at Stony Brook leads to a middle school reunion
Thrower didn鈥檛 begin his career with the Bulldogs. He played Division I hoops with Stony Brook, making 11 starts in 35 games his freshman year, dropping in 4.3 points per night. One thing he didn鈥檛 do with the Seawolves was play football.
He moved to the bench full-time in his sophomore campaign, and by the time it was over, he was talking to people at the Big Rapids, Michigan program. That鈥檚 when he got in touch with an old, familiar face.
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鈥淐oach [Tony] Annese, he coached at Muskegon, so I鈥檝e known him since middle school,鈥 Thrower said. 鈥淗e was trying to get me to play football again, and I said no. I talked it over with my high school coach and parents, and I decided I may as well play both and see how it plays out. I knew both were two really good programs, so why not?鈥
The decision was final. Thrower was heading to Ferris State to play both sports. The only thing left to decide was which one he was better at. 鈥淚 really don鈥檛 know. A lot of people ask me that, I鈥檒l let them decide.鈥
CHAPTER 2: A historic run to the DII men鈥檚 basketball title
It wasn鈥檛 simply a DII record-tying 38-win season. It wasn鈥檛 just a season-ending 26 game winning streak. The 2017-18 Ferris State basketball team meant so much more. The Bulldogs were the first team from Michigan to win a DII basketball title as they captured the first national title in school history.
Thrower was a pivotal piece off the bench. He scored 22 points in the three games in South Dakota for the 2018 Elite Eight. Of course, there was also coach Andy Bronkema鈥檚 iconic beard.
"A lot of us were growing beards," Thrower said. "We were doing it for one of our teammates. Me and Markese (Mayfield) weren鈥檛 shaving our beards, but everyone else shaved theirs except coach. That was his playoff thing, he said he wasn鈥檛 shaving till we won it all. I guess it ended up working.鈥
There is certainly a difference in Thrower鈥檚 two coaches, Annese an admired veteran, old-school football coach and Bronkema a young and rising star in the coaching ranks. But it鈥檚 not the differences that have made Thrower the player he鈥檚 become.
鈥淭hey are both very, very competitive, play fast, and both hold me to a higher standard, which I like. Some people when they come in from Division I, coaches treat them kind of privileged. That was never the case here. Coach Bronkema can be a little more lenient, but Coach Annesse, no matter who you are, he鈥檚 giving it to you. He鈥檚 going to let you know how it is.鈥
Congrats to 's Markese Mayfield & DeShaun Thrower on being named to Preseason All-GLIAC Team!
鈥 Ferris Athletics (@ferrisathletics)
CHAPTER 3: The DII football championship
The stage is set. Two of the most exciting offenses meet in the DII football championship on Saturday, Dec. 15. Valdosta State is the top-ranked offense in the land, but Thrower and his defensive unit are well-prepared. After all, they have to go against Harlon Hill finalist Jayru Campbell every day in practice.
鈥淢an, Ru? Our offense? We go against them every day. That鈥檚 hard. But he鈥檚 a phenomenal quarterback. He鈥檚 very smart, he鈥檚 spent a lot of hours watching a lot of film. It鈥檚 been an amazing experience to play with him, he鈥檚 one of those players that practices as hard as he plays.鈥
MORE: Valdosta State, Ferris State head to Texas for the title game
Luckily for a Bulldogs team experiencing their first national championship, they have the presence of Thrower in the locker room. Not only is he an amazing athlete, but he鈥檚 also been there before.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting real antsy," he said. "Right now, it鈥檚 who has the best week of preparation. I鈥檓 really excited to play Saturday, but right now we got to focus. Don鈥檛 take plays off in practice because you鈥檙e worried about getting hurt. Compete. When we were in South Dakota [for basketball], we were practicing so hard two guys got stitches.鈥
Our guy with the opening pitch from the game tonight!
鈥 Ferris St. Football (@FerrisFootball)
So while the Bulldogs prepare, we all wait to see the next chapter in this career unfold, this time on the gridiron. While Thrower won鈥檛 make a prediction, he promised all we can ask for.
鈥淚t should be an exciting, up-tempo game," he said. "We both play fast on both sides of the ball.鈥
