Tag: hot rod uga

Former Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship signs with new NFL team

Former UGA football star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has signed with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad.

Former Georgia Bulldogs star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has signed with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. Arizona’s starting kicker, Matt Prater, has a hip injury and may not be able to play on Thursday against the New Orleans Saints.

The Cardinals waived kicker Matt Amendola, who missed an extra point in Arizona’s loss to Seattle on Sunday. There’s a good chance the Cardinals will utilize Blankenship on Thursday against the Saints.

Earlier this year, the Indianapolis Colts waived Blankenship after he missed a 42-yard game-winning field goal attempt for the Colts during overtime in Week 1.

Blankenship won Indianapolis’ kicker competition last season. The former Georgia standout has converted on 45 of 54 kicks during his NFL career.  Blankenship has made 52 out of 55 extra points.

Blankenship, who missed much of last season with a hip injury, has made one field goal over 50 yards in his NFL career.

Former Georgia Bulldogs walk-on kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was a fan favorite during his time in Athens. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Blankenship hopes to impress the coaches in Arizona to get another NFL opportunity.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Blankenship’s signing:

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Indianapolis Colts waive former Georgia Bulldog kicker

The Indianapolis Colts have released kicker Rodrigo Blankenship after missing a critical field goal attempt against the Houston Texans.

The Indianapolis Colts have waived former Georgia Bulldog star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship. The Colts tied the Houston Texans 20-20 to open the 2022 NFL season.

Blankenship missed a 42-yard game-winning field goal attempt for the Colts during overtime in Week 1. The Colts were frustrated with tying the Texans, who were one of the NFL’s worst teams in 2021.

Rodrigo Blankenship won a kicker competition for his job last season. The former Georgia standout has made 45 out of 54 kicks during his NFL career. Additionally, Blankenship has connected on 52 out of 55 extra points.

Former Georgia Bulldogs place kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was a fan favorite during his time in Athens. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Blankenship made two of three field goals against the Texans, but that was not enough for the Colts, who will look elsewhere for a kicker. Blankenship, who missed much of last season with a hip injury, has made one field goal over 50 yards in his NFL career.

The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the news.

Rodrigo Blankenship will likely get another opportunity in the NFL. He’s been counted out before.

The Colts signed a pair of kickers in a corresponding move.

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Former Georgia Bulldog named one of college football’s top walk-ons ever

Former Georgia Bulldog Rodrigo Blakenship named one of college football’s top walk-ons ever

Former Georgia Bulldog star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has been named one of the top walk-ons of all time. Blankenship is ranked as the No. 46 best walk-on ever.

Blankenship is the only Georgia player on the list, which is headlined by Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield. At Oklahoma, Mayfield won the Burlsworth Trophy twice (2015 and 2016). The Burlsworth Trophy is awarded to the nation’s top walk-on player.

Baker Mayfield became the first walk-on to win the Heisman Trophy in 2017. Interestingly, Mayfield’s final career game came against the University of Georgia and Rodrigo Blankenship, who helped Georgia keep pace with Oklahoma’s high-powered offense.

Who will be college football’s next great walk-on?  There are too many walk-ons to consider any individual walk-on likely to become a star. Instead, the vast number of walk-ons is what allows there to be so many success stories.

It is always a great story when college football walk-ons earn full scholarships. Rodrigo Blankenship, who made a game-winning kick against Kentucky in 2016, did not get a full scholarship until the 2017 college football season.

For every Santana Moss, Rodrigo Blankenship, or Jordy Nelson there are dozens of walk-ons grinding to make the football team and paying full tuition.

Do you think that Blankenship is ranked too lowly in the list of the greatest college football walk-ons of all time?

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Former Georgia star ‘Hot Rod’ tops Pro Bowl voting among AFC kickers

Former Georgia Bulldogs star K Rodrigo Blankenship leads AFC kickers in Pro Bowl voting. Hot Rod has played well for the Indianapolis Colts

Former Georgia Bulldogs star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship leads AFC kickers in Pro Bowl voting. ‘Hot Rod’ went undrafted, but has been a standout after winning the starting job for the Indianapolis Colts.

Blankenship got off to an excellent start for the Colts. He has not been scoring as much recently. The University of Georgia great did make a game-winning kick against the Green Bay Packers to win 34-31 in overtime.

His heroic efforts make him worthy of a Pro Bowl vote this year. Blankenship along with fellow Georgia Bulldogs Justin Houston, Roquan Smith, Ben Jones, David Andrews, and more are deserving Pro Bowl candidates.

On the year, Rodrigo Blankenship has made 24 out of 27 field goal attempts. He has connected of 27 out of 30 extra point attempts as well. Blankenship has made the fourth most field goals of any kicker in the NFL. He ranks fifth in the NFL in points with 102.

Blankenship is a key reason why the Colts are 8-4 this season and in the AFC Playoff hunt.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl will not be played. As an alternative, the Pro Bowl will be held virtually and the contest will be streamed via Madden NFL 21. The game was originally scheduled to be played at brand-new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Jan. 31. 
Voting continues through Dec. 17.

Fans can vote for Rodrigo Blankenship by Retweeting this:

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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.

Contract details: Rodrigo Blankenship’s UDFA deal with Colts

Georgia Bulldog legend and Lou Groza Award winner Rodrigo Blankenship signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Indianapolis Colts

Georgia Bulldog legend and Lou Groza Award winner Rodrigo Blankenship fell into the Indianapolis Colts’ lap as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft.

Blankenship will not have an easy path to starting for the Colts. However, he was able to haul in more money than the average undrafted free agent:

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

Blankenship’s landed a $20,000 signing bonus according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Hot Rod will have to compete with Chase McLaughlin to win Indianapolis’s starting job at kicker.

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.

Sep 9, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (98) kicks the game winning field goal in the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

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Kirby Smart: “What Rodrigo has overcome is a story for the ages”

Georgia football HC Kirby Smart discusses how amazing UGA K Rodrigo Blankenship’s Bulldog career has been.

In Kirby Smart’s post-game presser tailing Saturday’s home win over Texas A&M, the coach used his opening remarks to congratulate Georgia’s newest career leader in points, Rodrigo Blankenship.

Blankenship, who also has the highest career field goal percentage of any Bulldog past or present, was flawless against the Aggies and scored 13 of the Dawgs’ 19 points on senior night.

It’s strange to think that the most automatic placekicker in school history didn’t start out on scholarship.

“What Rodrigo has done and overcome is a story for the ages,” Smart said.

Blankenship arrived in Athens as a preferred walk-on, meaning he had a semi-promised scholarship that would be awarded by the end of one season should he progress as the coaches hope.

He did his job, a scholarship still wasn’t awarded, and his dad wrote an open letter addressing the coaching staff that Georgia fans still remember.

The kicker responded by keeping his head down, persisting, and consequently earning his scholarship.

Smart continued:

 “To be a walk-on, to not getting a scholarship, to continue to work, to get a scholarship, and to continue to grind and be as consistent as he has been in some of the toughest conditions you can ask a kicker to kick…he’s just been tremendous.”

The senior out of Sprayberry High School has long been a fan favorite for the obvious football-related rationale. He is, as Smart later remarked, a “weapon.”

His habits of donning rec specs and lacing up the same Nike Mercurial cleats he’s worn since his high school soccer days have earned him fans nationwide for more frivolous reasons.

Blankenship’s tenacity, positive attitude, and grit should earn him even more.