UGA's "Hot Rod" named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week
ATHENS, Ga. - Just over a year after earning a football scholarship, former walk-on Rodrigo Blankenship has earned more recognition from the Southeastern Conference.
The junior place kicker was named the Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Monday following his performance at #24 South Carolina, according to a league announcement.
This marks Blankenship’s second SEC weekly honor and his first since the 2016 season.
The Marietta native hit both of his field goal attempts (45/44 yards) and was 5-for-5 on PATs during the 41-17 road rout of the Gamecocks. He connected on his 44 yarder as time expired in the second quarter to push the Bulldogs’ lead to 20-10 heading into the second half.
Blankenship also dropped all seven of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, making him 15-for-15 on the year. He is the top SEC kicker and ranked fifth nationally for active Division I players in field goal percentage at 84 percent (37-of-44).
The No. 3 Bulldogs (2-0, 1-0 SEC) return to action on Saturday in Sanford Stadium versus Middle Tennessee State (1-1). ESPN2 will televise the matchup at 7:15 p.m.