JUST FOR KICKS Blankenship returns to site of his first famous kick
ATHENS, Ga. — For most Southeastern Conference football fans, the first memory of Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was his game-winning field goal at Kentucky two years ago and the ensuing SEC Network interview in which he was still wearing his helmet.
The spectacled Blankenship still remembers the exceptions.
“People started to know who I was when I missed my first field goal earlier that year against Ole Miss,” Blankenship said. “The internet kind of flamed me, and that was a rough introduction to my college career. After that Kentucky game, I think it went from people roasting me for being a kicker wearing glasses to people maybe realizing these glasses actually help me make field goals.
“The attention became positive at that point. From that moment, it’s been an incredible journey.”
Blankenship’s 2016 game in Lexington consisted of a 4-for-4 performance in field-goal attempts, with his fourth try a 25-yarder that lifted Georgia to a 27-24 win as time expired. His kick snapped a two-game losing streak for the Bulldogs that had saddled them with a 4-4 record in Kirby Smart’s debut year as head coach.
The Bulldogs are 23-4 since that evening in Lexington and can win a second consecutive Southeastern Conference Eastern Division crown by prevailing there again Saturday afternoon, when No. 6 Georgia (7-1, 5-1) and No. 11 Kentucky (7-1, 5-1) will vie in a winner-take-all divisional clash.
Odds and ends
“That was a big kick,” Bulldogs junior defensive back Tyrique McGhee said. “When Rod hit that, it started Rod’s fame and what he has going for him. Rod always pulls through for us. He’s automatic now. I would be surprised if he missed another one the rest of his life. He’s clutch, and we’re happy to have him.”
Said Blankenship: “I was a moment where I realized that I could do this. I realized that I could execute for this team at a high level.”
The 6-foot-1, 191-pound redshirt junior from Marietta has developed into one of college football’s top all-around kickers, having made 13 of 15 fieldgoal attempts (86.7 percent) this season and 47 of 56 (83.9) in his career. He has attempted 125 extra points in his three seasons and has yet to miss, setting a program record.
Blankenship also has 53 touchbacks in 59 kickoffs this season, currently ranking second in the Bowl Subdivision and second in school history to the 67 he produced a year ago.
All this while wearing glasses that make him as recognized as any of Georgia’s nearly 38,000 students.
“I admit I don’t understand eyesight, but I don’t see how those could help anybody see,” Smart said. “I know one thing, he sees that ball on the ground, and he gets his toe on the leather really well, so they must work for him. He did a great job in this game two years ago, and I think that certainly gave him the confidence and gave us the confidence in him that he was a pressure player and enjoyed the moment.”
Blankenship has a difficult time seeing things from a distance and wears the glasses because he can’t stand contacts.
“Being able to see important things like the play clock on a field goal or a kickoff, I need my specs to be able to see that,” he said. “If the uprights are 50 yards away, I need a nice, sharp image. They help me see as clearly as I can.”
Since making his game-winner at Kentucky, Blankenship has added the memorable 55-yard field goal at the halftime horn of the Rose Bowl this past New Year’s Day against Oklahoma and a 51-yarder several days later in overtime that gave the Bulldogs the brief lead in their title-game loss to Alabama.
Blankenship may be needed for more big attempts this week, as every point could be precious given that Kentucky allows a nation-leading 13.0 points per game.
“I try not to pay too much attention to that,” Blankenship said. “The only statistics I’m concerned about are my own and the ones that I contribute to the team, like field-goal percentage and touchback percentage.”
Smart after Tuesday’s practice on redshirt sophomore guard Ben Cleveland: “We think he can help us, but I don’t know if he’ll be out there starting.” … Smart said redshirt freshman lineman Netori Johnson is practicing on offense and defense.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.
“When Rod hit that, it started Rod’s fame and what he has going for him. Rod always pulls through for us. He’s automatic now. I would be surprised if he missed another one the rest of his life. He’s clutch, and we’re happy to have him.” – TYRIQUE MCGHEE ON THE GAME-WINNING KICK IN 2016