ATHENS — Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship posted a statement Thursday night that tried to clear the air about the controversy over whether he should be awarded a scholarship.
The statement, posted at midnight on Thursday, apologized for his father’s “interactions” with the media this season, saying they came without his knowledge. Blankenship also steered clear of saying whether he agreed or not that he deserved to be put on scholarship.
“My opinion of whether or not I feel a scholarship is warranted is rather irrelevant, therefore I will not voice my opinion on the matter,” Blankenship said. “Georgia deserves the best players it can possibly find at every position, and in order for this program to regain the notoriety and respect that it rightly deserves, the program demands production from each and every position that is nothing short of impeccable.”
Blankenship has been a walk-on the past two seasons, and while he still could be put on scholarship, Georgia is facing a scholarship crunch for the upcoming season. Coach Kirby Smart informed Blankenship and his family at a Monday meeting that the kicker would not be getting one this spring semester, and would compete for one in the fall.
Ken Blankenship, the kicker’s father, went public with a lengthy letter on Thursday afternoon saying that Smart was wrong to not guarantee his son a scholarship right away and for the 2017-18 school year. Blankenship, a redshirt freshman walk-on, went 14-for-17 on field goals this season and made all his extra points, though his kickoff yardage was just eighth in the SEC.
“I would also like to apologize for my father’s interactions with the media this season,” Rodrigo Blankenship wrote. “He acted without my knowledge each time, and each incident was uncalled for.”
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