Jerry DePoyster
Encyclopedia
Jerry Dean DePoyster is a former American football
placekicker
and punter who also played in the National Football League
.
player at the University of Wyoming
, taking the school to a first ever Sugar Bowl
in New Orleans in 1968. In a 40-7 victory over Utah in 1966, DePoyster became the first kicker in NCAA history to make three field goals of over 50 yards in one game, connecting from 54, 54 and 52 yards. The win was part of a 10-1 season for the Cowboys that included a WAC title and a Sun Bowl triumph over Florida State. He was inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame on September 15, 2006.
by the Detroit Lions
. He would participate in all 14 of the Lions games that season
. He next would play for the Oakland Raiders
(1971–1972) until the arrival of the legendary Ray Guy
(who was the first pure punter ever taken in the first round of the NFL draft
). DePoyster was an average punter, and has the dubious distinction of having one of the shortest punts in NFL history. He received the snap
at the Raider 2 yard line, and booted an eleven yard lame duck, which was promptly returned for a touchdown
by the New York Jets
. To add injury to insult, DePoyster was flattened by the returner
, who bulldozed DePoyster on his way to the Raider end zone
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
and punter who also played in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
College career
Jerry DePoyster was an All-American college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player at the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
, taking the school to a first ever Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
in New Orleans in 1968. In a 40-7 victory over Utah in 1966, DePoyster became the first kicker in NCAA history to make three field goals of over 50 yards in one game, connecting from 54, 54 and 52 yards. The win was part of a 10-1 season for the Cowboys that included a WAC title and a Sun Bowl triumph over Florida State. He was inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame on September 15, 2006.
Professional career
DePoyster was a 2nd round selection (37th overall pick) the 1968 Common Draft1968 NFL Draft
The 1968 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft, in the second year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on January 30–31.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. He would participate in all 14 of the Lions games that season
1968 Detroit Lions season
The 1968 Detroit Lions season was their 39th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 5-7-2, winning only four games. They missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...
. He next would play for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1971–1972) until the arrival of the legendary Ray Guy
Ray Guy
William Ray Guy is a retired American football punter for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. Coming from the University of Southern Mississippi, he was the only pure punter ever to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft when the Oakland Raiders selected him in 1973.Guy was a key member of...
(who was the first pure punter ever taken in the first round of the NFL draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
). DePoyster was an average punter, and has the dubious distinction of having one of the shortest punts in NFL history. He received the snap
Snap (football)
A snap starts each American football and Canadian football play from scrimmage.-Action:...
at the Raider 2 yard line, and booted an eleven yard lame duck, which was promptly returned for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. To add injury to insult, DePoyster was flattened by the returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
, who bulldozed DePoyster on his way to the Raider end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
.