DeKALB | He’s the only punter in Division-I football with more than 50 punts.

Temple’s Jake Brownell also leads the nation in yards with 1,979 off his 51 punts. That’s 575 yards more than Temple’s offense has amassed this season, an explanation as to why Brownell’s leg has been so busy.

But in his first season, the redshirt freshman has also taken on another duty aside from punting and kickoffs.

Temple’s field goal kicker Danny Murphy began this season with a 20-yard field goal against Buffalo to send its first game of 2006 into overtime.

Temple eventually lost 9-3 and Murphy went on to miss his next two field goals.

Enter Brownell. The Thorofae, N.J. native made his first start at all three kicking positions on Sept. 23 against Western Michigan.

Since starting, Brownell has punched through all five of his extra point attempts.

He also put through each of his field goal attempts. But more importantly, his 32-yard field goal against Kent State on Oct. 7, and 27-yarder at Clemson gave Temple the only leads it’s had in its 0-7 season.

Brownell’s added kicking duties place him second on the team in points with 11. Senior running back Tim Brown leads the team with 12 points, having scored two of the team’s six touchdowns on the season.

And if Temple’s back-up kickers get any ideas from Northern Colorado reserve punter Mitch Cozad, who allegedly stabbed starting punter Rafael Mendoza in his kicking leg, they can forget about it.

That’s because Brownell’s brother, John, is a 220-pound linebacker for Temple. Kick away, Jake.

Sean Connor is an NIU football beat reporter for the Northern Star.