:Pat Studstill
{{Short description|American football player (1938–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image = Pat Studstill.jpg
| caption = Pat Studstill {{circa|1960}}
| position = Wide receiver, punter, return specialist
| number = 25, 28, 2
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|6|4}}
| birth_place = Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|10|16|1938|6|4}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 180
| high_school = C. E. Byrd {{nowrap|(Shreveport, Louisiana)}}
| college = Houston
| undraftedyear = 1961
| draftround =
| draftpick =
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1961}}–{{NFL Year|1962}}, {{NFL Year|1964}}–{{NFL Year|1967}})
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1968}}–{{NFL Year|1971}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1972}})
| highlights =
- 2× Pro Bowl (1965, 1966)
- NFL receiving yards leader (1966)
;NFL record
- 99-yard touchdown reception (tied)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 181
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 2,840
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 18
| statlabel4 = Punts
| statvalue4 = 560
| statlabel5 = Punting yards
| statvalue5 = 22,764
| statlabel6 = All-purpose yards
| statvalue6 = 5,519
| pfr = StudPa00
}}
Patrick Lewis Studstill Jr. (June 4, 1938 – October 16, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver, punter and return specialist. He played 12 years in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions (1961–1967), Los Angeles Rams (1968–1971), and New England Patriots (1972). He led the NFL with 457 punt return yards in 1962. In 1966, he led the league in both receiving yards (1,266) and punting yards (3,259). He also tied an NFL record in 1966 with a 99-yard touchdown reception.
Early years
Studstill was born in 1938 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He attended C. E. Byrd High School in Shreveport where he was a star athlete in both track and football. He graduated from Byrd High in 1957 and attended the University of Houston on a football scholarship.{{cite news|title=Pat Studstill Of The Lions|newspaper=The Shreveport Times|author=Bill McIntyre|date=August 1, 1965|page=2C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89818099/pat-studstill/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Playing A Pat Hand|newspaper=The Shreveport Times|author=Bill McIntyre|date=February 3, 1971|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89818356/playing-a-pat-hand/|via=Newspapers.com}} He sustained a leg injury as a senior and only played 10 minutes that year.{{cite news|title=Pat Studstill – Kid Who Looked Like Schoolboy Makes It|newspaper=The News-Messenger|date=November 30, 1962|page=20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89818604/pat-studstill-kid-who-looked-like/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Professional football
=Detroit Lions=
Studstill was undrafted in the 1961 NFL draft. He signed with the Detroit Lions in August 1961.{{cite news|title=Pro Football --- Or Track? |newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=George Puscas|date=August 19, 1961|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89809845/pat-studstill/|via=Newspapers.com}} As a rookie, he appeared in all 14 games, principally returning punts and kickoffs.{{cite web|title=Pat Studstill|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate=November 30, 2021|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StudPa00.htm}}{{cite news|title=Pat Studstill May Play More|newspaper=The Shreveport Journal|date=August 13, 1962|page=12A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89810945/pat-studstill-may-play-more/|via=Newspapers.com}} On October 8, 1961, in a victory over the Chicago Bears, he returned a kickoff 100 yards for the Lions.{{cite news|title=Pat Studstill Returns Kickoff 100 Yards as Lions Grab Win|newspaper=The Shreveport Times|date=October 9, 1961|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89810008/pat-studstill-returns-kickoff-100-yards/|via=Newspapers.com}} He ranked fourth in the NFL with an average of 28 yards per kickoff return.{{cite news|title=Pat Studstill Doesn't Draw Laughs Now!|newspaper=The Evening Standard|author=Bruno L. Kearns|date=November 30, 1962|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89811163/pat-studstill-doesnt-draw-laughs-now/|via=Newspapers.com}}
In 1962, he led the NFL with 457 yards on 29 punt returns, an average of 15.8 yards per return. He was also the Lions' No. 2 receiver in 1962 with 36 catches for 479 yards and four touchdowns.
Standstill injured his left knee during the Lions' first contact drill in the summer of 1963. He underwent surgery and missed the 1963 season.{{cite news|title=Lions Lose Studstill for 3 Weeks|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=George Puscas|date=August 26, 1963|pages=1D, 5D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89811485/lions-lose-studstill-for-3-weeks/|via=Newspapers.com}}
In 1965, Studstill appeared in all 14 games for the Lions, including 12 games as a starter at the flanker position. He led the team with 28 receptions and three receiving touchdowns and ranked second on the team with 389 receiving yards. He also added punting to his responsibilities and was the leading punter in the NFL by the middle of October.{{cite news|title=Standstill's Busy Year|newspaper=Rutland Daily Herald|date=October 14, 1965|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89812651/studstills-busy-year/|via=Newspapers.com}} He finished the 1965 season ranked sixth in the NFL in punting, having kicked 78 times for an average of 42.8 yards per punt.{{cite news|title=Pat Studstill to Get Award|newspaper=The Shreveport Journal|date=January 15, 1966|page=A7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89812978/pat-studstill-to-get-award/|via=Newspapers.com}} He was chosen for the Pro Bowl at the end of the 1965 season.
Studstill's best year was 1966, when he was second in the NFL with 67 receptions and led the league with 1,266 receiving yards. One of his five touchdowns went for 99 yards, making him the third player to accomplish this feat. Since then, eight other players have tied his record. In 1966, he had an NFL record of five consecutive games with 125+ receiving yards, which has since been tied by Calvin Johnson and broken by A.J. Brown.{{cite news|title=Pat Studstill, Lions' Pro Bowl receiver, punter in '60s who went into acting, dies at 83|author=Tony Paul|newspaper=The Detroit News|date=October 18, 2021|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2021/10/18/pat-studstill-detroit-lions-receiver-punter-60-s-dies-83/8514218002/|via=Newspapers.com}} At the end of the 1966 season, Studstill was selected as a first-team All Pro by the Sporting News, Associated Press, UPI, and Football Weekly.{{cite web|title=1966 NFL All-Pros|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate=November 30, 2021|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966/allpro.htm}}
In 1967, Studstill missed seven games with a pulled hamstring muscle.
=Los Angeles Rams=
In May 1968, Studstill was traded to the Los Angeles Rams as part of a multi-player deal that sent Bill Munson to the Lions.{{cite news|title=Rams Hope Swap Leads to 'Bowl'|newspaper=Valley Times|date=May 2, 1968|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89814394/rams-hope-swap-leads-to-bowl/|via=Newspapers.com}} Studstill spent four years with the Rams, appearing in 56 games, but only one as a starter. He caught 28 passes for the Rams and scored three touchdowns, but he was used primarily as a punter.{{cite news|title='It Wasn't Planned', Studstill Says of Run|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Mal Florence|date=November 2, 1970|page=|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89814664/it-wasnt-planned-studstill-says-of/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Studstil Headed for Best Season as Punter|newspaper=Progress Bulletin|date=October 20, 1971|page=E2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89814929/pat-studstill/|via=Newspapers.com}} He averaged 41.4 yards per punt in 1971.
While playing for the Rams, he wore a maskless helmet while punting, making him one of the last players in the NFL to play without a facemask.{{cite news|title=The rich history of helmets|author=Paul Lukas|work=ESPN.com|date=April 12, 2016|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/041216}}
=New England Patriots=
Studstill was placed on waivers by the Rams prior to the 1972 season. He was claimed by the New England Patriots.{{cite news|title=Patriots Claim Pat Studstill|newspaper=The Shreveport Journal|date=September 7, 1972|page=4D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89815416/patriots-claim-pat-studstill/|via=Newspapers.com}} He was used exclusively as a punter during the 1972 season.{{cite news|title=Pats' Studstill gets no kick out of East wind|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=October 11, 1972|page=62|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89815805/studstill/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Studstill sustained a knee injury during training camp in May 1973. Studstill claimed the injury required surgery, and the Patriots disputed the injury and refused to honor his contract for the 1973 season.{{cite news|title=Pat Studstill Not Flag-Waving Patriot|newspaper=The Charlotte News|date=August 7, 1973|page=14A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89816132/pat-studstill-not-flag-waving-patriot/|via=Newspapers.com}}
For his career, Studstill punted 560 times for 22,764 yards, an average of 40.7 yards per punt.{{cite web |title=Pat Studstill: Returning, Receiving, and Punting for the Lions|author=Jim Sargent|publisher=The Coffin Corner, Vol. 22, No. 4 |year=2000|url=https://profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/22-04-860.pdf}}
Family and later years
Studstill was married in July 1960 to Barbara Jean Pickard. Both were students at the University of Houston.{{cite news|title=Barbara Pickard, P.L. Studstill Jr. Pledge Their Vows|newspaper=The Shreveport Journal|date=August 18, 1960|page=2C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89808777/marriage-of-pickard-studstill/|via=Newspapers.com}} With Barbara, he had a son, Pat Studstill III, and daughter, Lisa.{{cite news|title=Patrick "Pat" Lewis Studstill Jr.|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=October 17, 2021|page=33A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89809407/obituary-for-patrick-lewis-studstill/|via=Newspapers.com}} He later remarried to his second wife, Rita Vennari.
After retiring as a player, he was hired as a technical advisor on the 1974 prison football film, The Longest Yard. He also worked as an actor in television shows, movies, and more than 300 commercials. Between 1981 and 1985, he had a recurring role as Barclay on The Dukes of Hazzard.{{cite news|title=Pat Studstill, NFL player and 'Dukes of Hazzard' actor, dead at 83|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=October 19, 2021|author=Peter Sblendorio|url=https://news.yahoo.com/pat-studstill-nfl-player-dukes-144500913.html}} Other credits included Magnum, P.I., The Incredible Hulk, and Paper Lion.
In 1999, Studstill was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
He died on October 16, 2021, at his home in Los Angeles.
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Punting | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | {{abbr|Pnt|Times punted}} | {{abbr|Yds|Punting yards}} | {{abbr|Y/P|Yards per punt}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest punt}} | {{abbr|Blck|Times punts blocked}} | |
| 1961 | DET
| 14 || 0 || 5 || 54 || 10.8 || 25 || 0 || 1 || 32 || 32.0 || 32 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1962 | DET
| 14 || 0 || 36 || 479 || 13.3 || 51 || 4 || – || – || – || – || – | |||||||||||
| 1964 | DET
| 14 || 3 || 7 || 102 || 14.6 || 27 || 1 || – || – || – || – || – | |||||||||||
| 1965 | DET
| 14 || 12 || 28 || 389 || 13.9 || 55 || 3 || style="background:#cfecec;"|78 || 3,335 || 42.8 || 69 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1966 | DET
| 14 || 13 || 67 || style="background:#cfecec;"|1,266 || 18.9 || style="background:#e0cef2;"|99 || 5 || 72 || 2,956 || 41.1 || 66 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1967 | DET
| 7 || 5 || 10 || 162 || 16.2 || 37 || 2 || 36 || 1,602 || style="background:#cfecec;"|44.5 || style="background:#cfecec;"|78 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1968 | RAM
| 14 || 1 || 7 || 108 || 15.4 || 25 || 1 || style="background:#cfecec;"|81 || 3,207 || 39.6 || 58 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1969 | RAM
| 14 || 0 || 3 || 28 || 9.3 || 11 || 0 || style="background:#cfecec;"|80 || style="background:#cfecec;"|3,259 || 40.7 || 60 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1970 | RAM
| 12 || 11 || 26 || 351 || 13.5 || 28 || 4 || 67 || 2,618 || 39.1 || 53 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1971 | RAM
| 14 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || 70 || 2,896 || 41.4 || 60 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1972 | NE
| 14 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || 75 || 2,859 || 38.1 || 57 || 1 | |||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollGa00.htm Career] | 147 | 42 | 181 | 2,840 | 15.7 | style="background:#e0cef2;"|99 | 18 | 560 | 22,764 | 40.7 | 78 | 1 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{NFL receiving yardage leaders}}
{{NFL punting yards leaders}}
{{NFL punt return yards leaders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Studstill, Pat}}
Category:Male actors from Shreveport, Louisiana
Category:American football punters
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:C. E. Byrd High School alumni
Category:Houston Cougars football players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:Players of American football from Shreveport, Louisiana