Kent Branstetter

Last updated

Kent Branstetter
No. 71
Position: Tackle
Personal information
Born: (1949-02-03) February 3, 1949 (age 74)
Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school: La Marque (Texas)
College: Tyler (1968)
Houston (1969–1971)
NFL Draft: 1972  / Round: 9 / Pick: 216
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:9
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Kent Branstetter (born February 3, 1949) is a former American football tackle. He played college football for the Tyler Apaches and Houston Cougars and later was a member of the New Orleans Saints, Houston Oilers and Green Bay Packers.

Contents

Early life

Branstetter was born on February 3, 1949, in Galveston, Texas. [1] He attended La Marque High School and is one of 11 of their alumni to play in the NFL. [2] He played on the ninth grade football team as a freshman before being named starting fullback as a sophomore. [3] [4]

Branstetter also played linebacker, earning second-team All-District honors on defense as a junior while being first-team All-District on offense that year. [5] In his senior season, he was described as "probably the finest defensive lineman in the conference," although he was limited due to injury and only named honorable mention All-District–South Zone at the position that year, additionally earning a second-team All-District selection at fullback. [6] [7]

College career

Branstetter signed to play college football for the Houston Cougars but spent his first year at Tyler Junior College, starting for their football team at tackle. [8] [9] He joined the Cougars in 1969 as a sophomore and saw very limited action while playing as a linebacker, only playing for 12 minutes. [10] [11] He moved to defensive end in 1970 and ended up starting eight games at the position, helping them compile a record of 8–3. [12] [13] [14]

Prior to the 1971 season, Branstetter was moved from his position at defensive end to defensive tackle. [15] He started the whole season as their right defensive tackle and helped them compile a record of 9–3, being their second-leading tackler with 95 by the time they played Colorado in the season finale. [13] [16] Considered "the strongest Cougar of them all," according to the Tampa Times , Branstetter played in the Bluebonnet Bowl and was invited to the North vs. South Lions American Bowl, starting for the south team. [11] [17] [18]

Professional career

Branstetter was selected in the ninth round (216th overall) of the 1972 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. [19] He signed his rookie contract in April, two months after having been drafted. [20] At the start of his professional career, his height was 6 ft 3 in, and his weight was 255 lb. [21] He left the team's training camp in July. [22] In mid-August, he was signed as a free agent by the Houston Oilers. [23] Branstetter was released at roster cuts later that month. [24]

Branstetter received interest from the New York Jets, New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers after his release by the Oilers, and signed with the Packers in April 1973. [25] He switched positions to playing on the offensive line with Green Bay. [26] Playing offensive tackle, he was released at the final roster cuts but was subsequently re-signed to the taxi squad. [27] He was waived from the taxi squad on September 13 but returned about two weeks later and was activated in October. [28] [29] [30] He made his NFL debut against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 14 and ended up appearing in a total of nine games as a reserve. [31] Branstetter was released at the final roster cuts in 1974, ending his career. [32] [33]

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References

  1. ↑ "Kent Branstetter Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ "La Marque (La Marque, TX) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Rebuilding Year For LM Tigers". The La Marque Times . August 19, 1965. p. 14. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. ↑ "Tigers Rally For Tie With Ponies". The La Marque Times . September 30, 1965. p. 14. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  5. ↑ "4 Ganders On All-District". The Baytown Sun . November 30, 1966. p. 7. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. ↑ Wappler, Paul (September 22, 1967). "Ganders, La Marque Hunt For First Victory". The Baytown Sun . p. 1. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. ↑ Hartman, Bill (December 3, 1967). "Orchin And Downing Make 12-4A All-District Team". The Baytown Sun . p. 12. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. ↑ "Texas College Grid Signers". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . February 18, 1968. p. 23. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. ↑ Reeves, Jim (October 31, 1968). "Tyler Apaches: Trick Or Treat". Tyler Morning Telegraph . p. 23. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. ↑ "Brumley Finally No. 1 In Cougars' Plans". The Monitor . September 16, 1970. p. 11. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. 1 2 Cormier, Oris (April 4, 1972). "Let's Talk Sports". Daily World . p. 8. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. ↑ "Big Kent In Line For Houston Job". The La Marque Times . August 20, 1970. p. 12. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  13. 1 2 "Kent Branstetter". The La Marque Times . December 30, 1971. p. 9. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  14. ↑ "1970 Houston Cougars Schedule and Results". Sports-Reference.com . Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  15. ↑ Yeoman, Bill (August 15, 1971). "Houstin Cougars Facing Rebuilding Job In '71". The Waxahachie Daily Light . United Press International. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  16. ↑ "1971 Houston Cougars Schedule and Results". Sports-Reference.com . Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  17. ↑ Selman, Jim (January 9, 1972). "'Hopeful' Bowl On Tap Here". The Tampa Tribune . p. 39, 42. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  18. ↑ "Lions Bowl gets three more men". Tampa Times . December 25, 1971. p. 9, 10. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  19. ↑ "1972 NFL Draft". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Sports Highlights". Enterprise-Journal . Associated Press. April 14, 1972. p. 7. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  21. ↑ "No. 9 Kent Branstetter". Jefferson Parish Times . August 3, 1972. p. 38. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  22. ↑ "Fourth Saint leaves camp". Corpus Christi Caller-Times . Associated Press. July 15, 1972. p. 50. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  23. ↑ "Branstetter Is Inked By Oilers". The Galveston Daily News . August 18, 1972. p. 5. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  24. ↑ "Oilers Cut 4 Vets, 9 Rookies". Winston Salem-Journal . Associated Press. August 30, 1972. p. 35. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  25. ↑ "Kent Branstetter Joins Packers". The La Marque Times . April 5, 1973. p. 10. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  26. ↑ "Spinning the Sports Globe". Ironwood Daily Glove . July 5, 1973. p. 22. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  27. ↑ "Pro Football Cuts". The Los Angeles Times . August 30, 1973. p. 54. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  28. ↑ "Charlie Napper among 3 waived by Packers". The Post-Crescent . Associated Press. September 14, 1973. p. 23. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  29. ↑ "Packers deal Garrett for 1974 draft choice". Leader-Telegram . Associated Press. September 26, 1973. p. 15. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  30. ↑ "Green Bay will activate tackle Kent Branstetter". The Post-Crescent . October 11, 1973. p. 34. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  31. ↑ "Kent Branstetter Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Packers cut Bowman, WFL signees". Chippewa Herald-Telegram . United Press International. September 11, 1974. p. 13. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  33. ↑ "Kent Branstetter NFL Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
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