Northern Iowa has four players battling for the starting QB job.CEDAR FALLS, IA (KTIV) -
The Northern Iowa Panthers are ranked 9th in the FCS preseason poll.
But, the biggest question UNI faces heading into its season opener? Who will be under center when the season kicks off Sept., 1.
The Panthers enter fall camp with four quarterbacks competing for the starting spot vacated by Tirrell Rennie.
Jared Lanpher, Sawyer Kollmorgen, SMU transfer Stephen Kaiser and freshman Justin Black will all look to lock up the starting spot.
Of the four quarterbacks, Lanpher is the only one that saw action in 2011, playing in five games, throwing four TD passes.
"You go back to Tirrell and Zach Davis they decided what was best for the team. And, that's all either one of us can ask is for the coaches to make the right decision and what's best for the team," said Jared Lanpher.
"We're all here to compete. Every day we're out there competing,' added Sawyer Kollmorgan. "We're all friends off the field, but on the field we kind of put the friendships aside and say hey, we're going to go to work and compete."
UNI was picked to finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference behind the National Champions from North Dakota State.
The Panthers believe that despite losing key weapons on offense and defense, they'll have another strong season in 2012.
"You say we lost a lot of talent, but football is football at the end of the day. We have a lot of young players but they know how to play football," said Varmah Sonie. "The senior DBs, we're going to have a lot of good leadership, so, we're going to get them ready."
The Panthers are on the road to start the season and visit Big Ten power Wisconsin on Sept. 1.
