Northern Illinois University Athletics

2024
• Played in all 13 games, contributing as a running back, receiver out of the backfield and on kickoff return team. 
• Started the season opener versus Western Illinois (8/31) as NIU opened in a three-back set. 
• Totaled 18 carries for 81 yards for a 4.5-yard rushing average. 
• Caught four passes for 14 yards. 
• Carried the ball six times for a season-best 42 yards versus Western Illinois (8/31) with a long rush of 31 yards. 
• Added a six-yard reception against the Leathernecks. 
• Caught two passes for three yards versus Buffalo (9/21).
• Had one carry and one five-yard catch at Bowling Green (10/12).
• Rushed four times for 24 yards in the matchup with Akron (11/13) with a long run of 13 yards.
• Tallied six carries for 15 yards versus Central Michigan (11/30). 
• Earned Academic All-MAC recognition.  

2023

• Played in the first four regular season games and the bowl game to preserve his redshirt season while making the transition to running back.
• Gained 88 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown; completed his lone pass attempt for a touchdown.
• Led NIU with 84 rushing yards versus Tulsa (9-23) on eight carries. 
• His 29-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter put the Huskies up 14-9. 
• Threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Antario Brown in the season-opening win at Boston College (9-2) for his first touchdown pass as a Huskie.
• Also carried three times for 12 yards at BC.
• Moved to running back following 2023 spring practices.
  
  2022
• Saw action in the last nine games of the season and started the Eastern Michigan (10-15), Ohio (10-22) and Central Michigan (11-2) games.
• Ranked fourth on the team in rushing with 64 carries for 280 yards and three touchdowns while completing 13-of-28 passes for 146 yards.
• Made his Huskie debut at Kentucky (9-24) and scored on a two-yard run in the fourth quarter.  
• Finished the game with 21 yards on seven carries. 
• Carried the ball a season high 15 times for 89 yards at Ball State (10-1) with a 24-yard run.
• Scored on a 15-yard touchdown run versus Toledo (10-8).
• Recorded season high 9-of-18 passes at Ohio for 110 yards, including a season-long 41-yard completion.
• Directed the game-winning touchdown drive at Western Michigan (11-9), opening the drive with a season-long 52-yard rush on the first play. 
• Carried four times for 77 yards on the drive, including a nine-yard touchdown run with less than a minute to play to give the Huskies a 24-21 lead.
• Rushed nine times for 20 yards in the season finale versus Akron (11-26).  
  
  PRIOR TO NIU 
  2021 at Temple
• Played in 11 games as a true freshman at Temple. 
• Completed 88-of-154 passes for 839 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
• Ranked second on the team in rushing with 295 yards on 75 carries for an average of 3.9 yards per carry with one rushing touchdown.
• Saw his first career game action at Rutgers following an injury to starter D'wan Mathis.
• Won his first career start, throwing for 255 yards on 19-of-23 passing with two TDs, including a 70-yard touchdown pass at Akron (9-11).
• Completed 17-of-24 passes for 161 yards while rushing 21 times against Boston College (9-18).
• Ran for a career best 78 rushing yards against Houston (11-13).
• Threw for 171 yards on 23-of-38 passing with a TD pass against Tulsa (11-20).
  
  HIGH SCHOOL
• As a junior, earned first-team all-conference honors leading his team to a 14-0 record and throwing for 1,925 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 1,033 rushing yards and 18 scores on the ground.
• Helped lead the team to a 12-2 record as a sophomore and a 9-0 record as a freshman. 
• Was a three-year letter-winner in baseball and also lettered once in basketball.
  
  PERSONAL
• Born Justin Lynch in Chicago, Illinois to parents are Sheila and Jim Lynch.
• Younger brother of NIU All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch, who later became his head coach at Mt. Carmel.
• Earned his degree in kinesiology in May of 2025.