Tag: Rodrigo Blankenship Georgia football

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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Rodrigo Blankenship hits game winning FG for Colts

Former Georgia football K Rodrigo Blankenship hits game winning 39-yard FG for the Colts in overtime.

It has been quite the rookie NFL season for former Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship.

After being passed on in the 2020 NFL Draft, Blankenship signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.  The Georgia legend is now starting to make a name for himself around the NFL.

Hot Rod drilled a game winning 39 yard field goal against the Packers on Sunday to secure a 34 – 31 victory in overtime.

Blankenship has been money all year, going 19/21 (90.5%) on field goals and 23/25 (92%) on extra points so far.  He leads the NFL in points scored with 94 total points.  That’s pretty good for the walk-on, undrafted free agent out of Athens.

The NFL has officially been put on notice.  It’s time to start respecting the specs.