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Georgia football releases new hype video ahead of opener, starting kicker set

Jacob Eason (left) and Nick Chubb (right) feature prominently in Georgia football's newest hype video.
Curtis Compton/AJC
Cy Brown
Cy Brown

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Georgia football has a new hype video for you

Georgia football’s video team sure knows how to get fans fired up. (Check this out for example 1a. I’ve probably watched it 100 times since 2014, and about 10 times already this week.) Although the 2016 season was one lots of Georgia fans might care to forget, but it still had its share of memorable moments. And many of those moments are reflected in a new hype video the program released on Tuesday to get Dawg fans fired up ahead of the 2017 campaign.

The video — titled “The Reel: 2016” — with an unidentified voice telling the Bulldogs to “attack the day,” followed by a short pregame speech from Kirby Smart. “Now look, guys. When we get our shots, let’s make ‘em. Make ‘em feel you today. It starts right now. Let’s go,” Smart says in the video.

The next two minutes are filled with highlight from 2016, including Maurice Smith’s pick-6 against Auburn, Jacob Eason’s game-winning touchdown pass to Isaiah McKenzie against Missouri, and McKenzie’s punt return for touchdown against UL Lafayette. There’s also a rousing speech from defensive coordinator Mel Tucker that will make you want to strap on some pads and bust heads.

So if you want to get pumped for the season to come, this video will do the job.

Only three days until kickoff.

Rodrigo Blankenship named starting kicker

We’ve got the answer to at least one question that has persisted throughout the preseason: Who will be the starting kicker?

According to Smart, Rodrigo Blankenship will will resume duties as the No. 1 man at kicker and on kickoffs heading into his sophomore season, beating out graduate transfer David Marvin. Smart said it was Blankenship’s “consistency” that gave him the edge over Marvin.

“Rodrigo has done a really good job, has been really consistent,” Smart said, according to Seth Emerson of DawgNation. “So we’re excited for where he is. We told Rodrigo that it was real important that we hit a high percentage of our field goals. He’s competing to do that.”

Special teams has been a point of emphasis for Smart and his staff this offseason after the unit was one of the team’s undoing in a few losses last season. Between hiring former Auburn special teams coordinator Scott Fountain as a consultant, devoting more practice time to special teams, and bringing in more specialists as walk-ons and transfers to increase competition, Smart has worked hard to bolster this facet of the game. And according to tight end Jeb Blazevich, it’s paying off. From Emerson:

“He’s been getting in there and just doing a phenomenal job on special teams,” Blazevich said “That’s what we’ve been harping all offseason. We were not very good last year in special teams. I think that led to a couple losses that should have been wins. And we need to get that under control.

“That’s the main thing we’re doing. We’re focusing on it. We’re emphasizing it. And guys are stepping up.”

Uncertainty lingers at offensive line

With the uncertainty at kicker settled, the focus on how the Dawgs will line up against Appalachian State shifts almost solely to the offensive line. While the media can make educated guesses about what the line will look like in Week 1, we won’t know for sure until the ref spots the ball and UGA trots out on offense.

For his part, Smart is keeping his cards close to the vest, and went so far as to scold the media on Tuesday for presuming to know who will start on the line. He indicated that any lineup seen in practice is still a makeshift one being used to find the best players, and that a starting unit isn’t yet settled on. From Emerson:

“Y’all are incredible. I’m getting reports during practice and everybody is telling me that Kendall Baker is the starting right guard,” Smart said. “It amazes me where some of this come from. Kendall Baker is in competition with Dyshon Sims, he’s in competition with Solomon Kindley, he’s in competition with Pat Allen, and to be honest with you, those four at guard are really about dead even.

“That’s just where it is. I know you all want to know who the starters are but there’s not a starter right now.”

Chauncey Manac to transfer

Georgia football suffered some attrition on Tuesday with the news that linebacker Chauncey Manac is transferring. He is expected to move on to Garden City Community College in Kansas.

“I’m pleased with what Chauncey did for the University of Georgia,” Smart said, according to Emerson. “We’re thankful he came. We wish him nothing but the best for the future.”

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