Northern Illinois University Redshirt-Senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi (Clive, Iowa/Valley HS/Michigan State) has been named to the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, as announced Wednesday by The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc.
The award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate in their class. A total of 76 quarterbacks are on the watchlist representing all 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences. Lombardi is one of four Mid-American Conference quarterbacks on the list, joining Toledo’s Dequan Finn, Daniel Richardson of Central Michigan and Ohio’s Kurtis Rourke.
In his first season in DeKalb in 2021, Lombardi threw for 2,597 yards and 15 touchdowns in leading NIU to its sixth MAC championship. On Nov. 3, 2021 Lombardi set a new NIU and MAC single-game record for passing yards with 532 at Kent State with three touchdown passes. He also threw for 348 yards and three scores in a 39-38 win at Central Michigan the game prior. Lombardi also scored nine rushing touchdowns in 2021. He had three rushing touchdowns in the Huskies’ 41-23 MAC Championship win over Kent State.
“Rocky has put the work in and done everything possible to become the best player he can be,” said head coach Thomas Hammock. “He’s going to show this season that he’s one of the best players in the nation. Rocky’s a field general and comes from a family of coaches. He sees the game at a higher level. He prepares hard and goes out on the field and works to the best of his abilities.”
Lombardi is the eighth NIU Huskie to be named to a national award watchlist this preseason, joining running backs Harrison Waylee (Johnston, Iowa/Urbandale HS) and Antario Brown (Savannah, Ga./Beach HS), wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee HS), offensive tackle Nolan Potter (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS), linebacker Nick Rattin (Palatine, Ill./Fremd HS), safety CJ Brown (Canton, Mich./Walled Lake Western) and kicker John Richardson (Orland Park, Ill./Brother Rice HS). Both Potter and Lombardi were also named to the 2023 Senior Bowl watchlist on Wednesday.
NIU opens the 2022 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 against Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m. Purchase NIU Football tickets now online at NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) during regular business hours. Ticket options include season tickets to see all six Huskie home games, Mini-Plans featuring either the All-Saturday ($90) or All-Weekday ($78) package, and single game tickets, priced from $18-$40 depending on the game. Season tickets provide the best value with prices as low as $14.67 per ticket with the Huskie Family 4 Pack (do not have to be related), $97 for East Side general admission seating or $144 for West Side reserved seats. Premium area tickets are also available on both a season and per game basis. For more information and to see all the options and prices, click here.