Jerry DePoyster
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| Position: | Kicker/Punter | ||||||||
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| Date of birth: | July 6, 1946 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Omaha, Nebraska) | ||||||||
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| College: | University of Wyoming | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1968 / Round: 2 / Pick: 37 | ||||||||
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Jerry Dean DePoyster (born July 6, 1946, in Omaha, Nebraska) is a former American football placekicker and punter who also played in the National Football League.
College career
Jerry DePoyster was an All-American college football player at the University of Wyoming, taking the school to its first-ever Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in 1968. In an earlier 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. That 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 Draft by the Detroit Lions. He played in all 14 of the Lions games that season. He next played 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 had 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 11-yard lame duck, which was promptly returned for a touchdown by the New York Jets. To add "insult to injury", DePoyster was flattened by the returner, who bulldozed DePoyster on his way to the Raider end zone. In his book One Knee Equals Two Feet, former Raiders coach John Madden stated his frustration with DePoyster's constant bobbling of snaps was a factor in the team's subsequent selection of Guy.