Trio of UNI players suspended for opener against Iowa

Three Northern Iowa football players are out of the season opener at Iowa after drawing disciplinary suspensions related to off-season arrests.

The suspended Panthers are backup quarterback Zach Davis of Washington, Iowa, offensive linemen Evan Tecklenburg and Misha Danilov. Davis and Tecklenburg are sophomores; Danilov is a red-shirt freshman.

Davis was arrested recently and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Tecklenburg and Danilov were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia in the wake of a July arrest. Danilov was charged with possession of marijuana.

Tecklenburg has lost his football scholarship, since it was his second brush with the law in two years. Last summer, he drew operating while intoxicated and possession of drug paraphernalia charges after a car accident in Cedar Falls.

Davis' loss would be the most significant, given his role as Pat Grace's primary backup. A year ago, he appeared in seven games and started three when Grace was injured. He completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 504 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. UNI won all three games he started.

Tecklenburg, a former Muscatine prep, saw action in 13 games last season. Most of his appearances came as a reserve offensive lineman and on special teams. Danilov, of Middleton, Wis., did not play in 2008.