NIU, Northwestern quarterbacks on Unitas list
Northern Illinois University quarterback Jordan Lynch and Northwestern QB Kain Colter were named to the 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award marks the sixth preseason watch list on which Lynch's name has appeared, and 30 quarterbacks made the preseason list.
Lynch has been on the lists released by the Manning Award (top quarterback including bowl performance), 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).
Last season, the Chicago native ranked fourth in the nation in rushing and had more 100-yard games (12) than any other player in Division I. Lynch became the first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in NCAA history to pass for more than 3,000 yards (3,138) and rush for more than 1,500 yards (1,815) in a single season. He broke 14 NIU school records and four NCAA marks a year ago.
Colter combined for nearly 2,000 yards last season as a quarterback and receiver for Northwestern, starting all but one game behind center for the Wildcats' offense.
NIU has launched a Heisman Trophy campaign for Lynch for 2013 centered around the theme, “Jordan Lynch for 6,” including a website, www.JordanLynchfor6.com, Facebook page, Jordan Lynch for 6 and Twitter account, @LynchFor6. Lynch finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting last year.
Here is the 2013 Top 30 Watch List for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award:
Blake Bortles, UCF
Tajh Boyd, Clemson
Kolton Browning, ULM
Kain Colter, Northwestern
Derek Carr, Fresno State
Jeff Driskel, Florida
Cody Fajardo, Nevada
David Fales, San Jose State
James Franklin, Missouri
Cody Green, Tulsa
Brendon Kay, Cincinnati
Taylor Kelly, Arizona State
Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois
Sean Mannion, Oregon State
Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
Jeff Mathews, Cornell
Andrew Maxwell, Michigan State
Keith Price, Washington
AJ McCarron, Alabama
Stephen Morris, Miami
Aaron Murray, Georgia
Bryn Renner, North Carolina
Chase Rettig, Boston College
Corey Robinson, Troy
Tyler Russell, Mississippi State
Connor Shaw, South Carolina
Joe Southwick, Boise State
Tyler Tettleton, Ohio
Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech
Keith Wenning, Ball State