Grady starting for Huskies

AMES, Iowa - Northern Illinois football spokeswoman Donna Turner has told HuskieWire that junior DeMarcus Grady will start at quarterback tonight for the Huskies' season opener at Iowa State. 

Grady won a three-way quarterback competition over incumbent starter Chandler Harnish, a junior, and redshirt freshman Jordan Lynch. 

Harnish started nine games each in 2008 and 2009 but missed games due to injury both seasons. A knee injury kept him out of most of spring practices, though he did not need surgery. 

NIU coach Jerry Kill said he's wanted durability and stability at the position, and Grady, who has a 5-0 record as a fill-in starter at NIU, has improved during his time as a first-stringer during the spring and the August training camp.