Ferris State, one of the more recently dominant Division II football programs, is located in Big Rapids, Michigan. Its campus is less than a three-hour drive from the University of Michigan.

Chambliss is originally from Grand Rapids, Mich., which sits on the Western side of the state of Michigan. It's the second-most populous city in the state, boasting over 200,000 residents, according to the 2024 U.S. Census.