ATHENS — Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship is as much a man of the people as football folk hero, both further cemented by his performance last Saturday.
Blankenship proved invaluable for the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs once again, splitting the uprights in the pressure-packed 23-17 win over Notre Dame from 40, 31 and 43 yards.
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“He’s clutch, Mr. consistency, and it’s a pleasure to have him,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “It’s like Jake (Fromm); you go through your life coaching and you may only have one or two Rodrigos. He wants to be in the limelight, he wants that pressure.”
Blankenship, a senior, did indeed savor the moment.
“It’s crazy, it’s awesome, it’s a blessing, it’s really just a blessing to be here and be a part of this team, part of this program and part of the University of Georgia,” Blankenship said following the historic Top 10 tilt at Sanford Stadium.
“When you come to the University of Georgia, you can find yourself playing in some pretty big games. It’s just really special and really just a blessing to be a part of this team and be in these kinds of games.”
Blankenship is a leader of the team as well as All-American candidate at kicker, as he exhibited during his pregame talk.
Blankenship admitted he exhaled in the same fashion as many of the 93,246 that made up the record crowd a Sanford Stadium.
“I definitely think that there was a sigh of relief there at the end,” said Blankenship, whose 43-yard field goal with 6:54 left boosted UGA’s lead to 23-10.
Blankenship was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season, the first coming after his three field goal performance in the season-opening 30-6 win over Vanderbilt.
It’s the fourth time in his career that he’s earned the honor.
Blankenship has 358 career points for the Bulldogs, which ranks fourth on UGA’s all-time scoring list.
The Senior Bowl has taken note, consider Blankenship an automatic invite.
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