Tag: colts football news

Former Georgia WR Mecole Hardman backs Jacob Eason as Colts QB

Some say the Colts need to look to the draft, but former UGA receiver Mecole Hardman said who he thinks should be the starter next season.

The NFL’s Indianapolis Colts are facing uncertainty at quarterback this offseason.

17-year veteran Phillip Rivers has hung up his cleats, leaving the Colts with two signal callers on the depth chart, five-year pro Jacoby Brissett and former Georgia Bulldog Jacob Eason, the team’s 2020 fourth-round draft pick.

Some say the Colts need to look to the draft or trade for a starting quarterback, but current Kansas City Chief and former Georgia receiver Mecole Hardman said who he thinks should lead Indianapolis next season.

Eason signed with Georgia in 2016 and started one season in Athens before moving on to Washington after Jake Fromm took over in 2017 and led the Bulldogs to the Rose Bowl and national title.

In one season at Washington in 2019, Eason completed 64% of his passes for 3,132 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions and led the Huskies to an 8-5 record and a second place finish in the PAC-12 North.

 

 

This week former Bulldogs Brandon Boykin and Chris Burnette joined UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton to talk Dawgs, their new podcast and more! Listen here for lots of laughs!

Hot Rod off to a historic start for Indianapolis Colts

Former Georgia Bulldog kicker Rodrigo Blankenship is off to a historic start for the Indianapolis Colts.

Former Georgia Bulldog kicker Rodrigo Blankenship is off to a historic start for the Indianapolis Colts. Blankenship signed an undrafted free agent deal with Indianapolis following the 2020 NFL Draft.

Blankenship won the Lou Groza award at UGA last season.

‘Hot Rod’ has made 12 of 14 fields goals (85.7%) to start the 2020 NFL season. 12 made field goals through four games as a rookie is topped by only three other kickers in NFL history. Additionally, Blankenship is 9 for 9 on extra point attempts. Note that the NFL has a much longer extra point than college.

Overall, the former Georgia kicker has scored 45 total points through his first four games. This is another historic figure. Three players (Harrison Butker, Jeff Reed, and Richie Cunningham) have scored over 45 points as a kicker to start their careers.

Hopefully Blankenship is able to continue his historic start. The Colts will look to move to 4-1 this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Look for Hot Rod to be challenged even more throughout the season. Thus far, Blankenship has a long of 44 yards and hasn’t attempted a kick over 50 yards. That will change. Indianapolis has been a defensive-minded team to begin the season and Blankenship’s points have been key for them having a 3-1 record and one of the AFC’s better records.

Stats are per an Andrew Walker Tweet:

Twitter reacts: Rodrigo Blankenship wins Colts’ job as starting kicker

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has won the starting job at kicker for the Indianapolis Colts

Former Georgia Bulldogs star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has won the starting kicker job for the Indianapolis Colts over incumbent Chase McLaughlin. Blankenship will make his NFL debut Sept. 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Blankenship went undrafted in April’s NFL Draft but was quickly signed by the Indianapolis Colts.

Blankenship had a distinguished career at the University of Georgia. He instantly became a fan favorite after hitting a game-winning field goal at Kentucky in 2016. He went on to win the prestigious Lou Groza Award as a senior.

Blankenship earned a $20,000 signing bonus from the Colts according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The Colts don’t have a back up kicker on their practice squad indicating their confidence in Hot Rod. Blankenship, like all NFL kickers will have pressure on every kick, even extra points, since they are longer (33 yards) nowadays.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the new of Blankenship taking the starting role in Indianapolis:

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Former Georgia K Rodrigo Blankenship wins Colts’ kicking job

Former Georgia Bulldogs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has won the starting job at kicker for the Indianapolis Colts

Former Georgia Bulldogs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has won the starting job at kicker for the Indianapolis Colts. Blankenship is slated to make his NFL debut Sept. 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Here’s what USA TODAY wrote about Blankenship, who went undrafted in April’s draft but was quickly signed by the Indianapolis Colts.

He won the Groza Award, honoring the nation’s top kicker, while at Georgia last year but didn’t get picked in April. Blankenship connected on 84% of his field goals over the past three seasons and converted all 200 of his extra-point tries in college, though he’ll have to adapt to the NFL’s longer PAT. Still, if Blankenship can beat out Chase McLaughlin, he could become a crucial part of the Colts roster and potentially ensure the door closes on Adam Vinatieri.

Blankenship had a distinguished career at the University of Georgia. He instantly became a fan favorite after hitting a game-winning field goal at Kentucky in 2016. Now, he’ll look to replace an NFL legend, former Colts and Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri.

Blankenship landed a $20,000 signing bonus according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Hot Rod beat out incumbent kicker Chase McLaughlin to win Indianapolis’s starting job.

Blankenship may still have some pressure if McLaughlin makes the Colts’ practice squad. Still, NFL kickers have pressure on every kick, even extra points, since they are longer nowadays.

Blankenship is one of the best kickers in Georgia history, and one of the greatest to ever do it in the SEC. He made 82.5% of his kicks and all 200 of his career extra points at Georgia, including a bizarre make against Tennessee.

Former Georgia QB Jacob Eason signs rookie deal with Colts

Former Georgia football and Washington Huskies QB Jacob Eason has signed with the Indianapolis Colts, per his Instagram.

According to a post by Jacob Eason on his Instagram account, the former Georgia quarterback has signed his rookie deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

Eason was drafted with the No. 122 overall pick by the Colts last month in the 2020 NFL Draft.

After transferring from Georgia at the end of the 2017 season, Eason sat out a year due to NCAA rules and then started the 2019 season at quarterback for the Washington Huskies.

At Washington in 2019, Eason led the Huskies to an 8-5 record throwing for 3,132 yards with 23 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Eason was projected as one of the top 5 quarterbacks in this year’s draft but, along with former teammate Jake Fromm, was forced to wait a bit longer to hear his name called and was eventually taken in the fourth round.

With the Colts, Eason will have the opportunity to learn from newly signed veteran passer Phillip Rivers and compete for the back up position for 2020.

It’s nice to see Eason finally put pen to paper and be rewarded for his fortitude. The Lake Stevens native did some great things at Georgia and DawgNation will be rooting for him in Indianapolis.

There are no contract details at this time.