CEDAR FALLS - A year ago, Kyle Bernard was one of the top high school football quarterbacks in the state.

Productive (1,753 yards, 23 touchdowns) and efficient (six interceptions in 211 passing attempts), Bernard led Cedar Falls High into the Class 4A state championship game, where the Tigers bowed to West Des Moines Valley, 27-8.

Now, as the 2009 season approaches, Bernard is one of a handful of true freshmen with an opportunity to play for the University of Northern Iowa.

However, it won't be at quarterback where the Panthers return rested veterans Pat Grace and Zach Davis.

UNI needs a punter to replace Brook Black, and that happens to be a position where Bernard also put up solid numbers during his prep career (39.9-yard average last season).

"My first year, I'm just hoping to get on the field being the punter," said Bernard. "I never really practiced it too much or really learned how to do it, so it's interesting learning some of the things now to get better at it."

Bernard isn't the only Panther who sees the punting job as an immediate opportunity to contribute. Wartburg transfer John Landau and sophomore Trent Kos are among the others with designs on the position. Landau was Bernard's teammate at Cedar Falls three years ago, while Kos is the younger brother of former UNI punter Adam Kos.

"I'm looking for someone who can get hang time. Ideally, we'd like to get four seconds up in the air," said Panther special teams coordinator Atif Austin. "I want someone who is going to catch the ball from the snapper and get it off quickly.

"We strive to have that whole operation under 2.1 seconds. If they can't do that, we're gonna keep looking."

Austin said there is no clear-cut favorite to win the job.

"Right now, nobody has stepped up and showed us that they are the defined punter for us," said Austin.

Head coach Mark Farley said Bernard has the physical ability required.

"He's got a great leg," Farley noted. "Now comes all the other dimensions and things that come into play. Does he have the confidence and the ability to do it on game day when the lights come on?

"We'll find that out as we go through camp and maybe on opening day."

For now, Bernard's focus is on improving his technique.

"Right now the main thing is just to get the punt off," he explained. "I'm focusing on catching and not taking false steps to get the punt off and then, obviously, hang time and distance, which will come with it once I get the steps down and stuff.

"Hopefully, I can just get more consistent and consistently be able to get good punts and be quick getting those off and the coaches will see something they like."

If Bernard earns the position, UNI will be putting more than a punter on the field. Throughout his football career, Bernard has been a playmaker.

"We haven't put any fake punts in yet, but I would enjoy that," he said with a laugh.