Five years ago, Northern Illinois rode record setting quarterback Jordan Lynch all the way to Miami's Orange Bowl. But replacing the 2013 Heisman finalist has proven to be a challenge in recent years due to injuries: four season ending injuries to quarterbacks decimated the depth chart the last two years. Last season, fourth string quarterback Daniel Santacanterina (6'1” 205 lbs.) was pretty much all that was left by the season finale against Kent State.
The sole upside to injury problems is that younger players get experience. Junior Ryan Graham (6'1” 212 lbs.) started eight games the last two seasons, both ending prematurely as two of those season ending injuries.