Kent Branstetter Explained

Number:71
Position:Tackle
Birth Date:3 February 1949
Birth Place:Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:260
High School:La Marque (Texas)
College:Tyler (1968)
Houston (1969–1971)
Draftyear:1972
Draftround:9
Draftpick:216
Pastteams:
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:9
Pfr:BranKe20

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.

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kent Branstetter Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. March 28, 2018. April 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190413123540/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BranKe20.htm. live.
  2. Web site: La Marque (La Marque, TX) Alumni Pro Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. September 8, 2023. June 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605224555/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93b9c6c9. live.
  3. News: Rebuilding Year For LM Tigers. The La Marque Times. Newspapers.com. August 19, 1965. 14. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164259/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-marque-times/131450144/. live.
  4. News: Tigers Rally For Tie With Ponies. The La Marque Times. Newspapers.com. September 30, 1965. 14. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164305/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-marque-times/131450382/. live.
  5. News: 4 Ganders On All-District. The Baytown Sun. Newspapers.com. November 30, 1966. 7. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164301/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baytown-sun/131450506/. live.
  6. News: Ganders, La Marque Hunt For First Victory. The Baytown Sun. Newspapers.com. September 22, 1967. 1. Wappler, Paul. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164336/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baytown-sun/131450654/. live.
  7. News: Orchin And Downing Make 12-4A All-District Team. The Baytown Sun. Newspapers.com. December 3, 1967. 12. Hartman, Bill. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164301/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baytown-sun/131450989/. live.
  8. News: Texas College Grid Signers. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. February 18, 1968. 23. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164305/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/131451316/. live.
  9. News: Tyler Apaches: Trick Or Treat. Tyler Morning Telegraph. Newspapers.com. October 31, 1968. 23. Reeves, Jim. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164801/https://www.newspapers.com/article/tyler-morning-telegraph/131451151/. live.
  10. News: Brumley Finally No. 1 In Cougars' Plans. The Monitor. Newspapers.com. September 16, 1970. 11. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164801/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monitor/131451629/. live.
  11. News: Let's Talk Sports. Daily World. Newspapers.com. April 4, 1972. 8. Cormier, Oris. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164802/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-world/131452078/. live.
  12. News: Big Kent In Line For Houston Job. The La Marque Times. Newspapers.com. August 20, 1970. 12. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164802/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-marque-times/131451744/. live.
  13. News: Kent Branstetter. The La Marque Times. Newspapers.com. December 30, 1971. 9. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164839/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-marque-times/131451836/. live.
  14. Web site: 1970 Houston Cougars Schedule and Results. Sports-Reference.com. September 8, 2023. August 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230818131210/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/houston/1970-schedule.html. live.
  15. News: Houstin Cougars Facing Rebuilding Job In '71. The Waxahachie Daily Light. Newspapers.com. United Press International. August 15, 1971. Yeoman, Bill. Bill Yeoman. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913164802/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-waxahachie-daily-light/131452167/. live.
  16. Web site: 1971 Houston Cougars Schedule and Results. Sports-Reference.com. September 8, 2023. September 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230908185546/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/houston/1971-schedule.html. live.
  17. News: 'Hopeful' Bowl On Tap Here. The Tampa Tribune. Newspapers.com. January 9, 1972. 39, 42. Selman, Jim. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165401/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/131452826/. live.
  18. News: Lions Bowl gets three more men. Tampa Times. Newspapers.com. December 25, 1971. 9, 10. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165303/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-times/131453040/. live.
  19. Web site: 1972 NFL Draft. Pro Football Archives. September 8, 2023. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808021352/https://www.profootballarchives.com/1972nfldraft.html. live.
  20. News: Sports Highlights. Enterprise-Journal. Newspapers.com. April 14, 1972. 7. Associated Press. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165303/https://www.newspapers.com/article/enterprise-journal/131453434/. live.
  21. News: No. 9 Kent Branstetter. Jefferson Parish Times. Newspapers.com. August 3, 1972. 38. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165303/https://www.newspapers.com/article/jefferson-parish-times/131453565/. live.
  22. News: Fourth Saint leaves camp. Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Newspapers.com. July 15, 1972. 50. Associated Press. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165306/https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times/131453769/. live.
  23. News: Branstetter Is Inked By Oilers. The Galveston Daily News. Newspapers.com. August 18, 1972. 5. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165303/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-galveston-daily-news/131453832/. live.
  24. News: Oilers Cut 4 Vets, 9 Rookies. Winston Salem-Journal. Newspapers.com. August 30, 1972. 35. Associated Press. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165304/https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal/131453948/. live.
  25. News: Kent Branstetter Joins Packers. The La Marque Times. Newspapers.com. April 5, 1973. 10. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165304/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-marque-times/131454137/. live.
  26. News: Spinning the Sports Globe. Ironwood Daily Glove. Newspapers.com. July 5, 1973. 22. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165806/https://www.newspapers.com/article/ironwood-daily-globe/131454391/. live.
  27. News: Pro Football Cuts. The Los Angeles Times. Newspapers.com. August 30, 1973. 54. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165804/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/131454456/. live.
  28. News: Charlie Napper among 3 waived by Packers. The Post-Crescent. Newspapers.com. September 14, 1973. 23. Associated Press. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165805/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent/131454574/. live.
  29. News: Packers deal Garrett for 1974 draft choice. Leader-Telegram. Newspapers.com. Associated Press. September 26, 1973. 15. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165805/https://www.newspapers.com/article/leader-telegram/131454733/. live.
  30. News: Green Bay will activate tackle Kent Branstetter. The Post-Crescent. Newspapers.com. October 11, 1973. 34. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165806/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent/131454965/. live.
  31. Web site: Kent Branstetter Career Game Log. Pro-Football-Reference.com. September 8, 2023. June 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230607103255/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BranKe20/gamelog/. live.
  32. News: Packers cut Bowman, WFL signees. Chippewa Herald-Telegram. Newspapers.com. September 11, 1974. 13. United Press International. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913165806/https://www.newspapers.com/article/chippewa-herald-telegram/131455325/. live.
  33. Web site: Kent Branstetter NFL Transactions. Pro Football Archives. September 8, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913170306/https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactionsb/bran03400.html. live.

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