NIU has faced some talented quarterbacks this season, such as Minnesota’s Adam Weber and Western Michigan’s Tim Hiller. Ball State quarterback Nate Davis is right up there with those two.

Davis has thrown for 2,058 yards this season, with 15 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 66.7 completion percentage.

Since he stepped on campus in 2006, Davis has started every game for the Cardinals and already owns the Ball State record for career touchdown passes.

“They have a great quarterback; not a good quarterback, a great one,” said NIU head coach Jerry Kill. “He’s a guy that will be playing in the National Football League. So any time that your leader is that good, it’s a plus.”

Before the season, Davis was named to the watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, The Maxwell Award (player of the year) and the Davey O’Brien Award (best quarterback).

“He’s got a quick release; you can’t sack him,” Kill said. “Their scheme’s not going to allow you to get to him. He takes a deep drop. He does a great job of play-action.”

Kill said Ball State’s offense reminds him of the Indianapolis Colts, where Peyton Manning takes a lot of deep drops and deep rolls.

“You see a lot of players who don’t come prepared for each game,” NIU safety David Bryant said. “I think that’s one thing you can see from him [Davis] – he’s prepared for each game.”

Bryant said the deep drops won’t affect what the Huskies do as a defense.

“It’s going to be basically the same kind of reads for us,” Bryant said.

The Cardinals lead the MAC in scoring offense, with Davis being a large part of that.