A Few Good Legs

Coach Al Golden and his staff went looking for a few good legs this spring. They looked near and far, hunting for walk-on placekickers and punters to challenge returnees Jake Brownell and Jeff Wathne. Here are three of the new faces that are currently planning to join the Owls this fall.

Patrick Campbell

Golden didn’t have to look far to find Patrick Campbell, the second team All-State placekicker from Council Rock North High School in Lower Bucks County. Campbell, a Newtown native, converted 21 of 22 extra points and 13 of 17 field goals in his senior year. He booted five field goals of at least 40 yards, with a 45-yard long.

But the most impressive thing about Campbell is his leg strength. This past season, 28 of his 46 kickoffs went for touchbacks. Yes, in high school they kick the ball from the 40-yard line. But that’s still pretty good. And kickoff distance has been a much bigger problem than field goal accuracy for Brownell and Wathne.

Inigo Abaroa

Recently, the Owls added another prospective kicker to the fold with a walk-on commitment from Inigo Abaroa of Belen Jesuit Prep in Miami, Fla. Abaroa converted 35 of 36 extra points and 3 of 4 field goals in 2007, earning first team All-Dade County honors. His career numbers are 67 of 68 extra points and 13 of 16 field goals, with a long of 47 yards.

Jordan Ottinger

For punting help, the Owls looked closer to home, getting a walk-on commitment from Jordan Ottinger of Salesianum School in Wilmington, Del. Ottinger was a second team All-State pick this past season. Ottinger is also a notable baseball prospect.

Brownell converted 18 of 19 extra points and 13 of 21 field goals last season. Wathne averaged 38.2 yards per punt.

Note: Walk-on "commitments" are as good as the paper they aren't written on. But at this late date on the recruiting calendar, scholarship offers for kickers and punters are extremely rare. So there's no reason to think that Campbell, Abaroa, and Ottinger won't be at Temple this fall.