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QB Lynch makes cut for Johnny Unitas award

October 17, 2013
Jordan Lynch

Jordan Lynch

Northern Illinois University quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Jordan Lynch is one of 15 candidates for the 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, announced Wednesday by the announced by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica® .

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is presented to the nation’s top college quarterback, based on his accomplishments both on and off the field. Candidates for the Golden Arm Award must be college seniors or fourth-year juniors on schedule to graduate with their class.

NIU’s Lynch ranks 14th in the nation and second in the Mid-American Conference in total offense, averaging 324.8 yards a game, and is 23rd in the country in rushing yards with 102.7 yards per game.

His 3,039 career rushing yards are a school record for rushing yards by a quarterback and he ranks fifth among current Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players. Lynch is also one of 10 FBS quarterbacks all-time to gain 3,000 rushing and 4,000 passing yards in a career.

One of two quarterbacks from the Mid-American Conference to make the cut for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Lynch earned second team All-America honors from the Associated Press and Phil Steele’s Magazine last season and won the Vern Smith Leadership Award as MAC MVP. Last season, he led the Huskies to a 12-game winning streak, including a double overtime win over Kent State, and a berth in the 2013 Orange Bowl.

In addition to being a candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Chicago native is also on the lists released by the Manning Award , the Walter Camp Award (most outstanding player), Maxwell Award (college player of the year), the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player) and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (top quarterback).

NIU has launched a Heisman Trophy campaign for Lynch for 2013 centered around the theme, “Jordan Lynch for 6.” Lynch finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting last year.

Lynch and the Huskies are back in action Saturday, Oct. 19, when NIU travels to Central Michigan.

For more information on NIU football and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.