FEATURE
5
In ninth grade at MacArthur High School in Lawton, Okla., Branstetter's career goal was to play basketball. He was good too: He played for a few AAU teams in junior high. He played football, filling in at quarterback, free safety and wide receiver, but it wasn't really his priority.
In the last football game of his ninth grade year, Branstetter broke his collarbone. He was disappointed, but not because he might miss some of next year's football season.
"At that time, all I could think about was that I want to get my collarbone healed to play basketball." Branstetter says. "That's what I wanted to do. I never thought I'd play football."
After speaking with his mother, Branstetter decided he would give kicking a chance. He had played soccer since he was a little kid, so he figured he could pick it up quickly.
"I just enjoyed kicking a lot at first," he says. "I'm not going to say that I came out and blew people away, but I went out and worked hard at it."
Branstetter also says he is lucky that MacArthur had a premier kicking coach who was able to connect him with college coaches around the country. He went to Kansas' kicking camp, but found that the Kansas coaches couldn't offer him a scholarship.
So Branstetter accepted a scholarship offer at the Air Force Academy. There, he went through basic training and traveled to the team's first game at Tennessee. Soon after, however, he realized the Air Force wasn't for him.
"I didn't feel like I could balance being a cadet and playing football at the same time," Branstetter savs.
Transferring was Branstetter's only option, but where to?
Last year, Kansas State receiver Brandon Banks fielded the Kansas kickoff at the 5-yard line and followed a Wildcat wedge toward the sideline. Surrounded by white and purple, Banks looked poised to break loose for a huge return gain.
But the blockers forgot to stop Branstetter. He
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Junior kicker Jacob Branstetter kicks an extra point against Northern Colorado last Saturday. The Jayhawks won the game 49-3 and Branstetter was seven for seven on extra points.
"Something inside me just clicks. I see that lane open up and I know I have to make a tackle." Jacob Branstetter, Kansas kicker
slipped by the wedge, and once again sent the returner's legs into the air.
Branstetter says the sense for hunting down returners is innate. He mentions how he was always around the ball when he played free safety in youth football.
"Something inside of me just clicks. I see that lane open up and I know I have to make a tackle," Branstetter says. "It's just a natural feeling as an athlete. We just get those feelings. You just know you have to make a play."
Branstetter still wanted to play college football, so he called back the coaches who recruited him out of high school, including Kansas' Clint Bowen. Bowen told Branstetter that they had a walk-on spot available and that he could "come and compete."
It took two years, but Branstetter finally saw the field last year. Helped by a prolific offense, Branstetter hit 51 extra points to set the school record and made nine of
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12 field goals overall.
But Branstetter doesn't mind staying on the sideline if it helps the team.
"Kickers always want to kick. But I want to kick field goals that help this team win games and win championships," Branstetter says. "If we're winning games and championships, I'm OK with that."
This summer, Branstetter vowed to get better "in all aspects" of the kicking game. He mainly focused on improving his hangtime, his distance on kickoffs and his consistency on field goals.
Coach Mark Mangino says the special teams definitely need improving from last year. There is significant competition for every special teams spot, including all 10 kickoff cover men.
Branstetter says that the competition will help
improve the coverage teams.
"Who wants to be the guy that steps up and makes our special teams one of the better in our conference or in the nation?" he says.
This season, Branstetter also wants to try to break the stereotype that kickers are the weakest players on the field and work half as hard as their teammates. Chasing down kick returners is just one part of that.
"I've always been the kind of person to go against the norm in society or in football or sports." Branstetter says. "I try to go out there and do my work just like everyone else does."
It's been a long time coming for Branstetter, but he isn't happy quite yet. He says he is still working hard to be the best kicker possible and knows his teammates notice.
"They know that when I go out there for a game- winner that I'm mentally and physically ready to go like they are," Branstetter says.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE SEPTEMBER 11,2009