Tag: georgia kickers

Georgia football kicker announces transfer destination

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Brooks Buce enter the NCAA transfer portal early this offseason and is transferring to the Troy Trojans

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Brooks Buce entered into the NCAA’s transfer portal in Jan. 2021. Now, Buce is transferring to the Troy Trojans football program.

Buce played high school football at Greater Atlanta Christian before coming to the University of Georgia. Buce walked on at UGA in 2017. He has been the back-up kicker since 2018.

Buce is in the portal as a junior and will be immediately eligible to play at Troy. Buce will look for more playing time at Troy. Freshman Scott Taylor Renfroe will be Buce’s primary competition for the starting kicker role.

Georgia starting kicker Jack Podlesny is coming off a good season. He went 13-of-16 on field goals, including a 53-yard game-winning kick against Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl.

Buce has attempted six kickoffs in his career with five of them resulting in touchbacks.

Brooks Buce announced his transfer destination via his Twitter account:

We wish Brooks Buce luck with Troy!

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Georgia football kicker Brooks Buce enters NCAA transfer portal

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Brooks Buce is entering into the NCAA’s transfer portal after the Peach Bowl.

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Brooks Buce is entering into the NCAA’s transfer portal. He played high school football at Greater Atlanta Christian before coming to the University of Georgia. Buce walked on at UGA in 2017. He’s been the back-up kicker from 2018-2020.

Buce is in the portal as a junior and will be immediately eligible to play at his new school. Brooks Buce will look for more playing time at his new school. Starting kicker Jack Podlesny is coming off a good season, where he went 13-16 on field goals including a 53 yard game-winning kick against Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl.

Buce has attempted six kickoffs in his career with five of them resulting in touchbacks.

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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.

Georgia football player card: K Jared Zirkel

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Jared Zirkel will be a key player to watch next season. He went to the same high school as Johnny Manziel.

Jared Zirkel, Kicker:

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-3

Weight: 185 pounds

Hometown: Kerrville, Texas

High School: Tivy High School

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Jared Zirkel will be a key player to watch next season. The incoming freshman is expected to takeover Rodrigo Blankenship’s role as starting kicker.

Zirkel came to Athens as a three-star recruit. He’s regarded as one of the top kicker prospects in the class of 2020. In addition to kicking, Zirkel gained some experience as a punter in high school. He additionally made a career long field goal of 59 yards at Tivy, which is also the high school of SEC legend Johnny Manziel.

Zirkel was on a high school team that didn’t need him much. He only attempted six kicks as a senior at Tivy. Over 90% of his kickoffs resulted in a touchback as a junior.

Zirkel will compete with Brooks Buce for the starting job next season.

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Georgia football player card: K Brooks Buce

Brooks Buce, Kicker (No. 97): Class: Junior Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 pounds Hometown: Johns Creek, Georgia High School: Greater Atlanta Christian Georgia Bulldogs kicker Brooks Buce played high school football at Greater Atlanta Christian before …

Brooks Buce, Kicker (No. 97):

Class: Junior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 175 pounds

Hometown: Johns Creek, Georgia

High School: Greater Atlanta Christian

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Brooks Buce played high school football at Greater Atlanta Christian before coming to the University of Georgia. Buce walked on at UGA in 2017. He’s been the back-up kicker in both 2018 and 2019.

Buce has attempted six kickoffs in his career with five of them resulting in touchbacks.

Buce was the number two kicker last season. He’ll compete with Jared Zirkel, Jack Podlesny and more to fill Rodrigo Blankenship’s role next season.

It’s unfortunate for players like Buce that G-Day was canceled in 2020. He’ll look for more game opportunities in the upcoming season.

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Georgia football player card: K Jack Podlesny

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Jack Podlesny played high school football at Glynn Academy before coming to the University of Georgia

Jack Podlesny, Kicker (No. 96):

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Height: 6-1

Weight: 180 pounds

Hometown: St. Simons Island, Georgia

High School: Glynn Academy

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Jack Podlesny played high school football at Glynn Academy before coming to the University of Georgia. He made 90% of his field goals as a senior and has a powerful leg that helped him record fifty-five touchbacks on kickoffs. He additionally played soccer in high school.

Podlesny walked on to the team in 2018 and redshirted.

Last season, he made a big 38 yard kick in the G-Day scrimmage to help the black team win with over a minute to play. Podlesny is yet to see regular season action. He’ll compete with Jared Zirkel, Brooks Buce and more to fill Rodrigo Blankenship’s role next season.

It’s unfortunate for players like Podlesny that G-Day was canceled in 2020.

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