Stutzmann ‘had a nice little college career’

Time flies, and it has been quite the five-year flight for University of Hawaii football receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann.

Once resembling a One Direction member, Stutzmann’s face is now covered with a beard, and his arms and legs are cloaked in ink.

"I’ve had my share of ups and downs," Stutzmann said. "In the end, the good stuff outweighed the bad stuff. I had a great time."

Stutzmann will play his final UH game Saturday against Army at Aloha Stadium.

He is set to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology next month.

"I had a nice little college career," Stutzmann said.

In 43 games, 36 of which he started, Stutzmann has 145 receptions for 1,765 yards and eight touchdowns.

He also has amassed three concussions, several dislocated fingers, a broken hand and numerous sprained ankles.

"Everything from head to toe," Stutzmann said, smiling. "You name it, I probably had it."

His older brother, Craig Stutzmann, is a former UH slotback and graduate assistant. Their grandfather regularly attended Craig’s practices, and it appeared inevitable Billy Ray would join UH.

Stutzmann committed to UH as a Saint Louis School junior. A month after the Crusaders’ final football game of 2008, Stutzmann was a UH student, choosing to graduate a semester early.

"At the time, I wanted to get the system down with those (UH) coaches," Stutzmann said. "I wanted to experience college a little early, see what it was like and get a feel for it."

That meant missing Saint Louis’ senior prom and the other class activities of that spring semester. He did return to participate in the commencement ceremony.

"I had more fun here (at UH) than I would have had at the prom," Stutzmann said. "It worked out."

As the Rainbow Warriors senior with the most seniority, Stutzmann noticed "a lot of people come and go — hundreds, thousands of people. It’s quite the experience."

During his UH career, he has had five position coaches.

When Greg McMackin was forced to retire at the end of the 2011 season, the offense was set to switch from the four-wide schemes. Stutzmann could have transferred to a program that ran McMackin’s offense. Instead, he decided to stay put.

"I signed with the school, and I’m dedicated to this place," Stutzmann said. "I’m a man of my word. I stayed here all five years. It’s a big accomplishment in my life, I’d say."

Of his time in Manoa, Stutzmann said: "I’m sure I made 90 percent of my memories in the past five years. I’m happy about it."

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Read Stephen Tsai’s Warrior Beat at staradvertiser.com/warriorbeat.