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== Early life == |
== Early life == |
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Blankenship was born in [[Marietta, Georgia]] to Ken and Izabella Blankenship.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.redandblack.com/gameday/behind-the-goggles-rodrigo-blankenship-blazes-his-own-path-to/article_455eb6aa-f36d-11e8-86a0-1b2026bdc67c.html|title=Behind the goggles: Rodrigo Blankenship blazes his own path to sports stardom|last=Hebert|first=Michael|date=November 29, 2018|work=[[The Red & Black (University of Georgia)|The Red & Black]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217173502/https://www.redandblack.com/gameday/behind-the-goggles-rodrigo-blankenship-blazes-his-own-path-to/article_455eb6aa-f36d-11e8-86a0-1b2026bdc67c.html|archive-date=December 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> After spending several years playing soccer,<ref name=":7" /> he began kicking footballs at ten years old.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Blankenship attended [[Sprayberry High School]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/georgia-football-title-hopes-may-rest-in-the-legs-of-a-bespectacled-former-walk-on/|title=Georgia football's title hopes may rest in the legs of a bespectacled former walk-on|last=Patterson|first=Chip|date=January 6, 2018|work=[[CBS Sports]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109213645/https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/georgia-football-title-hopes-may-rest-in-the-legs-of-a-bespectacled-former-walk-on/|archive-date=January 9, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/legend-hot-rod-georgias-rodrigo-blankenship-became-star-151313792.html|title=The legend of Hot Rod: How Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship became a star|last=Busbee|first=Jay|date=January 8, 2018|work=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109215019/https://sports.yahoo.com/legend-hot-rod-georgias-rodrigo-blankenship-became-star-151313792.html|archive-date=January 9, 2018|url-status=live|language=en-US}}</ref> As a high schooler, he participated in the 2014–15 [[U.S. Army All-American Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rodrigoblankenship.com/biography/|title=Biography – Rodrigo Blankenship|website=www.rodrigoblankenship.com|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111135600/http://www.rodrigoblankenship.com/biography/|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.redandblack.com/sports/georgia-adds-kicker-to-its-recruiting-class/article_94036040-848f-11e4-943d-b34787b0c4c1.html|title=Georgia adds kicker to its 2015 recruiting class|last=Riley|first=Connor|date=December 15, 2014|work=[[The Red & Black (University of Georgia)|The Red & Black]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111135943/https://www.redandblack.com/sports/georgia-adds-kicker-to-its-recruiting-class/article_94036040-848f-11e4-943d-b34787b0c4c1.html|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref> He was ranked by [[247Sports.com|247sports.com]] as the ninth-best kicker in the country. He also loves kids<ref name=":3" /> |
Blankenship was born in [[Marietta, Georgia]] to Ken and Izabella Blankenship.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.redandblack.com/gameday/behind-the-goggles-rodrigo-blankenship-blazes-his-own-path-to/article_455eb6aa-f36d-11e8-86a0-1b2026bdc67c.html|title=Behind the goggles: Rodrigo Blankenship blazes his own path to sports stardom|last=Hebert|first=Michael|date=November 29, 2018|work=[[The Red & Black (University of Georgia)|The Red & Black]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217173502/https://www.redandblack.com/gameday/behind-the-goggles-rodrigo-blankenship-blazes-his-own-path-to/article_455eb6aa-f36d-11e8-86a0-1b2026bdc67c.html|archive-date=December 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> After spending several years playing soccer,<ref name=":7" /> he began kicking footballs at ten years old.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Blankenship attended [[Sprayberry High School]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/georgia-football-title-hopes-may-rest-in-the-legs-of-a-bespectacled-former-walk-on/|title=Georgia football's title hopes may rest in the legs of a bespectacled former walk-on|last=Patterson|first=Chip|date=January 6, 2018|work=[[CBS Sports]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109213645/https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/georgia-football-title-hopes-may-rest-in-the-legs-of-a-bespectacled-former-walk-on/|archive-date=January 9, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/legend-hot-rod-georgias-rodrigo-blankenship-became-star-151313792.html|title=The legend of Hot Rod: How Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship became a star|last=Busbee|first=Jay|date=January 8, 2018|work=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109215019/https://sports.yahoo.com/legend-hot-rod-georgias-rodrigo-blankenship-became-star-151313792.html|archive-date=January 9, 2018|url-status=live|language=en-US}}</ref> As a high schooler, he participated in the 2014–15 [[U.S. Army All-American Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rodrigoblankenship.com/biography/|title=Biography – Rodrigo Blankenship|website=www.rodrigoblankenship.com|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111135600/http://www.rodrigoblankenship.com/biography/|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.redandblack.com/sports/georgia-adds-kicker-to-its-recruiting-class/article_94036040-848f-11e4-943d-b34787b0c4c1.html|title=Georgia adds kicker to its 2015 recruiting class|last=Riley|first=Connor|date=December 15, 2014|work=[[The Red & Black (University of Georgia)|The Red & Black]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111135943/https://www.redandblack.com/sports/georgia-adds-kicker-to-its-recruiting-class/article_94036040-848f-11e4-943d-b34787b0c4c1.html|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref> He was ranked by [[247Sports.com|247sports.com]] as the ninth-best kicker in the country. He also loves kids. He likes boys also and has the donk a dong.<ref name=":3" /> |
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== College career == |
== College career == |
Revision as of 15:18, 13 January 2020
Georgia Bulldogs – No. 98 | |
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Position | Placekicker |
Class | Senior |
Personal information | |
Born: | January 29, 1997 |
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
Weight | 217 lb (98 kg) |
Career history | |
College |
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Bowl games | |
High school | Sprayberry High School |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Rodrigo Blankenship (born January 29, 1997) is an American football placekicker for the Georgia Bulldogs.[1] He is a redshirt senior. His nickname is "Hot Rod."[2][3] He has received considerable media attention for the thick glasses that he wears during games.[4][5] He has kicked the longest field goal in Rose Bowl history.
Early life
Blankenship was born in Marietta, Georgia to Ken and Izabella Blankenship.[6][7] After spending several years playing soccer,[7] he began kicking footballs at ten years old.[2][6] Blankenship attended Sprayberry High School.[4][6] As a high schooler, he participated in the 2014–15 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[8][9] He was ranked by 247sports.com as the ninth-best kicker in the country. He also loves kids. He likes boys also and has the donk a dong.[9]
College career
Blankenship entered Georgia in 2015 as a preferred walk-on and red-shirted his first year.[4] As a red-shirt freshman, Blankenship earned the starting kicker spot. During the 2016 season, Blankenship was 14-for-18 on field goals and 26-for-26 on extra points.[10] He led the team in scoring and was named to the All-SEC Freshman team.[4]
In 2017 – his redshirt sophomore season – Blankenship received a full athletic scholarship.[11][12] He informed the team of the positive news after Georgia's 20–19 victory over Notre Dame.[7][11] In the 2018 Rose Bowl, Blankenship made a record-long 55-yard field goal that proved pivotal in shifting the momentum away from Oklahoma, leading to Georgia's eventual 54–48 overtime victory.[4][11] In the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game against Alabama, Blankenship hit a 51-yard field goal in overtime to put the Bulldogs temporarily ahead.[13] However, Georgia ultimately lost the national championship game, 26–23.[14]
Blankenship finished the 2017 season having made 20 of his 23 field goal tries and all 63 extra points attempts.[10] By making 87 percent of his field goals attempts, Blankenship had the sixth-best season in school history.[13] His 67 touchbacks – a dramatic improvement over his 20 touchbacks in 2016 – were also a school record, and they came after he adjusted his technique on kickoffs.[13][15]
In July 2018, Blankenship was selected for the preseason All-SEC First Team.[16] During the 2018 season, he went 19-for-23 on field goal attempts and made all 65 of his extra point attempts.[10] Following the 2018 regular season, Blankenship was named to the All-SEC Second Team.[17] In December 2019, Blankenship won the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation's top placekicker. He also was honored as a member of the SEC Football Community Service Team.[18]
Personal life
Blankenship's father, Ken, played football at Florida from 1967 to 1969.[19] Ken coached the kickers on every team for which Rodrigo played from fifth grade through the end of high school.[7]
While at Georgia, Blankenship is studying digital and broadcast journalism,[20] with a particular focus on sports journalism.[7]
On April 16, 2018, Blankenship released a rap song entitled "ATD."[21]
References
- ^ Scott, Nate (January 4, 2018). "Rodrigo Blankenship is the college football hero we need". SB Nation. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018.
- ^ a b Gartland, Dan (January 8, 2018). "Five things to know about Rodrigo Blankenship". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018.
- ^ May, Jed (November 9, 2016). "Rodrigo "Hot Rod" Blankenship enjoying newfound fame". The Red & Black. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Patterson, Chip (January 6, 2018). "Georgia football's title hopes may rest in the legs of a bespectacled former walk-on". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Jon (January 6, 2018). "Georgia notebook: UGA kicker recognized for glasses as much as ability". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Busbee, Jay (January 8, 2018). "The legend of Hot Rod: How Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship became a star". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Hebert, Michael (November 29, 2018). "Behind the goggles: Rodrigo Blankenship blazes his own path to sports stardom". The Red & Black. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018.
- ^ "Biography – Rodrigo Blankenship". www.rodrigoblankenship.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018.
- ^ a b Riley, Connor (December 15, 2014). "Georgia adds kicker to its 2015 recruiting class". The Red & Black. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Rodrigo Blankenship College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Cox, Joe (January 6, 2018). "Walk-on to walking on air: Why Rodrigo Blankenship is Georgia's most unlikely hero". Saturday Down South. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018.
- ^ Berg, Nathan (January 9, 2018). "Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship shines in national title loss". The Red & Black. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c Butt, Jason (March 28, 2018). "This UGA player passed the eye test in 2017. Numbers show just how good a season he had". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
- ^ Waldstein, David (January 9, 2018). "Alabama Wins National Championship With a Halftime Twist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Butt, Jason (September 4, 2017). "Blankenship changes approach, booms kicks for touchbacks". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
- ^ Wellman, David (July 20, 2018). "12 Bulldogs chosen by media for preseason All-SEC". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018.
- ^ "2018 All-SEC Football Team announced". Southeastern Conference. December 5, 2018. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018.
- ^ Carpenter, Scott (November 28, 2018). "Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship Named To SEC Community Service Team". WLTZ. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018.
- ^ Gearhart, Sarah (November 18, 2014). "U.S. Army All-American Bowl spotlight: Rodrigo Blankenship". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
- ^ "Rodrigo Blankenship - 2016 Football Roster - University of Georgia". Georgia Bulldogs. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018.
- ^ Culpepper, JuliaKate E. (April 17, 2018). "Georgia kicker Rodrigo 'Blanko' Blankenship releases rap 'ATD'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.