For NIU’s Lynch, the numbers tell the story
NIU coach Dave Doeren knew quarterback Jordan Lynch was going to be this good.
Lynch, the junior from Mt. Carmel High School, was added to the Manning Watch list Friday for the nation’s top quarterbacks.
The Manning Award, created by the Sugar Bowl, honors Archie Manning and sons Peyton and Eli. It is billed as the only QB award that includes bowl performances in its balloting.
“I had really high expectations of him,” Doeren said. “I wasn’t as concerned about him as I was about what was going to be around him. I knew he was going to be really good. I didn’t know if it would be this year or next year because of the youth of our offensive line and just the unknowns at that position.”
Try these numbers on for size for Lynch, who is doing it behind five new starters on the offensive line, including two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior.
타 He has more rushing yards (918) and rushing touchdowns (11) than Michigan’s Denard Robinson, Ohio State’s Braxton Miller and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel.
Lynch is averaging 7.1 yards per carry, and 131.1 per game to rank fifth in the country in rushing. He has six 100-yard games and a 200-yard rushing game this season.
타 He has more passing yards (1,487) than USC’s Matt Barkley, Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater or Texas’ David Ash.
In his first year as the NIU starter, Lynch has completed 61.2 percent of his passes and been intercepted just three times in 178 attempts.
타 He has more yards of total offense (2,405) than Florida State’s E.J. Manuel, Texas Tech’s Seth Doege or Clemson’s Tajh Boyd.
Lynch ranks seventh in the country in total offense with 343.6 yards per game.
타 He has been responsible for more touchdowns (22) than Kansas State’s Collin Klein, Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez or Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.
With 11 rushing and 11 passing scores, Lynch has accounted for 63 percent of NIU’s touchdowns.
NIU has more wins (6) than West Virginia, Oklahoma or Boise State. After falling to Iowa by 1 point (18-17) on a late touchdown in the 2012 season opener, the Huskies have won six straight to become bowl eligible for the fifth straight season.
Lynch has led NIU to three fourth-quarter comeback victories as the Huskies trailed Army, Kansas and Ball State entering the final quarter.
Among his touchdowns are runs of 73 (vs. Iowa), 88 (vs. Army) and 71 (vs. Ball State) yards and passes of 69 (vs. Army), 65 (vs. Kansas) and 54 (vs. Ball State).
NIU travels to Akron today to take on the 1-6 Zips, coached by Terry Bowden.