NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Rodrigo Blankenship, PK – University of Georgia
3.71 GPA - Digital Broadcast Journalism
Head Coach: Kirby Smart | Athletics Director: Greg McGarity
Faculty Athletics Representative: David Shipley
After starting his career at Georgia as a walk-on, Rodrigo Blankenship has already earned his degree while becoming one of the best kickers in school history. The Marietta, Georgia, native’s outstanding résumé earned his spot as the Bulldogs’ 14th NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
After graduating cum laude in December 2018 with a degree in digital broadcast journalism, Blankenship was awarded with the Billy Payne Award as a Georgia football player who graduated with at least a 3.0 GPA. A 2017 Academic All-District honoree, he is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and a two-time member of the Dean’s List. A member of the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll every semester of his career, Blankenship was awarded the football team’s 2019 Senior GPA and 2017 Sophomore GPA awards.
This season, Blankenship has made 12-of-14 field goals while remaining a perfect 30-30 on PATs. A game captain, he has also averaged 60.5 yards per kickoff, with just six of his 46 kicks returned, while guiding the Bulldogs (6-1) to the No. 8 ranking. Blankenship has been named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week three times this season after strong performances in wins against Vanderbilt, Notre Dame and Tennessee.
Georgia’s all-time career field goal percentage leader at 83.33 percent, Blankenship currently ranks fourth on the school’s all-time career scoring list with 379 points. The two-time Groza Award semifinalist has connected on a school-record 184 consecutive PATs, which ranks second all-time in the SEC. In 2018, Blankenship claimed Second Team All-SEC honors after leading the Bulldogs to the SEC East title and a No. 7 final ranking while finishing second in the NCAA with 82 touchbacks. In 2017, he helped Georgia win the SEC title and earn a No. 2 final ranking after the Bulldogs advanced to the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship. The same postseason, he set a Rose Bowl record with a career-long 55-yard field goal in a double overtime win against Oklahoma in a CFP Semifinal. The 2016 Freshman All-American owns the third- and fourth-highest single-season scoring totals for a kicker in Bulldog history.
A member of the 2018 AFCA Good Works Team and SEC Community Service Team, Blankenship was inducted into the UGA Athletic Association’s Leadership Education and Development program. The 2019 Wuerffel Trophy nominee has volunteered with numerous initiatives and charities, including the American Red Cross, Read Across America, Madison County Food Bank, the Hunger Bowl Competition and the Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer golf tournament.
Blankenship signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He enjoyed a successful rookie season that included kicking a game-winning field goal against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11. Blankenship was placed on the IR in the 2021 season but is still a member of the Colts.
