Michigan State University Athletics
Carson Gulker
GR.-6Â |Â TEÂ |Â 6-3Â |Â 240
Zeeland, Mich. | Zeeland West High School | Ferris State (2021-25)
All-around athlete began his career as a quarterback at Ferris State and was a tight end for the National Champion Bulldogs during the 2025 season . . . was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA . . . has scored 57 career touchdowns (50 rushing, seven receiving) . . . played in 44 career games at Ferris State (15 in 2022; 11 in 2023; two in 2024; 16 in 2025) . . . rushed for 2,228 yards on 422 carries (5.3 avg.; 50.6 ypg) at FSU with 50 rushing TDs, including a school single-season record 31 rushing TDs in 2022 . . . completed 107-of-176 passes (.608) for 1,591 yards and 16 touchdowns . . . accounted for a total of 73 total TDs at Ferris State (50 rushing, 16 passing and seven receiving) . . . was a member of four National Championship teams at Ferris State (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) . . . started 16 games, including five at quarterback and 11 at tight end . . . earned his bachelor’s degree from Ferris State.
2025 SEASON (REDSHIRT SENIOR AT FERRIS STATE): Helped lead Ferris State to a perfect 16-0 record and a second consecutive Division II National Championship . . . all-around player ranked third on the team with 1,089 all-purpose yards (548 receiving, 541 rushing) . . . ranked fourth on the team with 12 total touchdowns (seven receiving, five rushing) . . . led the team with 548 receiving yards and ranked second with 34 receptions . . . also ranked fifth on the team with 541 rushing yards on 81 carries (6.7 avg.; 33.8 ypg) . . . played for the No. 1 scoring offense (52.8 ypg) and total offense (520.0 ypg) in Division II . . . named to the All-GLIAC First Team as an H-Back . . . named to the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA)Â Super Region 3 Second Team as a tight end . . . rushed for 397 of his 541 yards in the five games of the playoffs . . . had seven carries for 41 yards and three catches for 52 yards, including a 14-yard TD reception, in the national championship game win over Harding (12/20) . . . ran for a season-high 115 yards on 17 carries in the DII semifinal win against Newberry (12/13) . . . had a season-best two rushing TDs and 62 rushing yards in DIII quarterfinal victory over Minnesota State . . . rushed for 100 yards on 15 carries with a TD vs. Northwood in the first round of the playoffs (11/22); also caught three passes for 38 yards and had a receiving TD against the Timberwolves . . . hauled in three passes for 83 yards, including a 64-yard TD catch, against Saginaw Valley State (11/8) . . . had a career-high six catches for 85 yards vs. Grand Valley State (10/25) . . . had a career-best two TD receptions vs. Michigan Tech (10/18).
2024 SEASON (REDSHIRT JUNIOR AT FERRIS STATE): Played in only two games due to injuries . . . rushed 10 times for 98 yards . . . was 3-of-4 passing for 27 yards and one TD.
2023 SEASON (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE AT FERRIS STATE): Played in all 11 games . . . rushed for 707 yards and 14 touchdowns on 144 carries (4.9 avg.; 64.3 ypg) . . . completed 63 percent of his passes (50-of-80) for 722 yards and 10 touchdowns . . . had three 100-yard rushing games . . . started in the first-round playoff game at quarterback vs. Grand Valley State in his only start of the season at QB (11/18) . . . ran for 95 yards on just seven carries, including two TDs, and was 2-of-3 passing with a 10-yard TD pass vs. Wayne State (11/11) . . . compiled 200 yards of total offense in the win over Michigan Tech (10/21), completing 7-of-9 passes for 80 yards and rushing for 120 yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries . . . recorded a season-high 144 yards on the ground vs. Saginaw Valley State (10/7) . . . accumulated 259 yards of total offense against Ashland (9/9), rushing for 138 yards and two TDs on 21 carries and completing 6-of-12 passes for 121 yards and three TDs.
2022 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT FERRIS STATE): Played in all 15 games for the National Champion Bulldogs . . . rushed for a team-high 882 yards on 187 carries and had a school-record 31 rushing touchdowns, including eight in the final three playoff games en route to the national title . . . the 31 rushing TDs were the most ever by a Division II quarterback and also led all of Division II during the 2022 season . . . started four games at quarterback (vs. Northern Michigan, Davenport, Wayne State, Grand Valley State) . . . named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year . . . completed 60 percent of his passes (46-of-77) for 701 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions . . . had four 100-yard rushing games . . . rushed for three touchdowns on nine carries for 18 yards in the national championship game against Colorado Mines (12/17) . . . had three rushing TDs in semifinal win over West Florida (12/10) . . . started at QB vs. Grand Valley State in the Super Regional Final (12/3) and scored a TD on FSU’s first play scrimmage, a 3-yard run, after a blocked punt; also had a 2-yard rushing TD in the fourth quarter . . . rushed for a career-high 180 yards on 26 carries with three TDs while completing 9-of-17 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown vs. Wayne State (11/12) in his third straight start at QB . . . was 3-of-5 passing for 32 yards and had 13 carries for 29 yards while starting at QB for the second game in a row vs. Davenport (11/5) . . . compiled 335 yards of total offense against Northern Michigan (10/29) in his first career start at quarterback, recording career highs in passing yards (220), pass completions (15) and pass attempts (21) with two passing TDs; accounted for five TDs overall against the Wildcats with three rushing scores en route to running for 111 yards on 14 carries . . . racked up 277 yards of total offense against Michigan Tech (10/22), completing 7-of-13 passes for 174 yards and a TD in addition to 23 carries for 103 yards and three rushing touchdowns . . . recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game with 122 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns against Findlay (10/1) . . . burst onto the scene with five rushing touchdowns against Waldorf (9/24) in just his third career game; had 10 carries for 51 yards overall . . . had 18 carries for 81 yards and three TDs against Lenoir-Rhyne (9/10) . . . scored a touchdown on his first collegiate carry with a 2-yard rushing TD against Central Washington (9/1).
2021 SEASON (FRESHMAN AT FERRIS STATE): Redshirted and did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Three-sport athlete at Zeeland West High School, lettering in football, basketball and track and field . . . played both quarterback and on defense . . . pro-style quarterback who also ran the Wing-T offense . . . was a four-year starter for Coach John Shillito . . . team captain . . . earned all-state honors as a senior in 2020 by The Detroit News and The Associated Press . . . named the Holland Sentinel Offensive Player of the Year . . . led Zeeland West to the state playoffs in his final season and a 5-2 record . . . ran for nearly 500 yards and more than 600 yards passing in the seven-game shortened season due to the pandemic . . . also garnered all-region recognition . . . rushed for 556 yards and 11 TDs as a junior in 2019 while throwing for 665 yards and seven TDs.