If Northern Illinois is going to slow Arkansas State's high-powered offense enough to win the 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl, it's going to have to do it without two important members of its defensive line. Defensive end Sean Progar was suspended for the game following a DUI arrest on Dec. 4. Ron Newcomb got hurt in the MAC championship game. Those two combined for 10 of the defense's 25 sacks.

For their part, the guys up front who will play are confident they can make up the difference:

"We've been primed to handle adversity all season," defensive lineman Nabal Jefferson said. "This is just another obstacle. We'll be fine."

"I think," said senior Kyle Jenkins, who will make his first career start, "we can carry the load."

The GoDaddy.com Bowl is set for Jan. 8 at 8:00 p.m. CT.

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