South Bound & Down
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Georgia Bulldogs: “Hot Rod” successful on 77 percent

By Matt Green

Oct 29, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA;Georgia Bulldogs place kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (98) kicks a field goal as Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) holds the ball against the Florida Gators during the first half at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA;Georgia Bulldogs place kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (98) kicks a field goal as Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) holds the ball against the Florida Gators during the first half at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are 77 days till college football season, and today we focus on the kicking game.

Special teams are often overlooked, but they’re also often the reason a team wins or loses a ballgame. In 2016, the Georgia Bulldogs learned that lesson, and by season’s end, they found themselves a kicker, and a viral sensation.

And that leads us to no. 77 in the Southbound and Down College Football Countdown.

Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship connected on 77.8 percent of his field goals in 2016.

Must Read: 78 yards for one of SEC's best home run threats

https://twitter.com/JimMWeber/status/795104549476438016

William Ham opened the 2016 season as the Bulldogs’ kicker. In the first three games, Ham went 3-for-7 on field goals with misses from 42, 52, 23, and 38 yards.

Then walk-on kicker, Rodrigo “Hot Rod” Blankenship, took over, and almost instantly became a fan-favorite.

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After his first game as the first-string kicker, Blankenship made 10 consecutive field goals. Against Kentucky, “Hot Rod” went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 25-yard game-winner as time expired, earning SEC special teams player of the week.

Blankenship hit on 14 of his 18 field goal attempts in 2016, and was 26-for-26 on extra points. And while his performance on the field is the primary reason fans started to like him, it was those glasses that made him a viral sensation. His glasses even have their own twitter account. They may only have 61 followers, but hey, that’s more followers than your glasses have.

It wasn’t all smooth sailings for Blankenship, however. Blankenship’s father was very outspoken in an interview with Dawgnation, nearly going as far as demanding a scholarship for his son. He even threatened that if Rodrigo was not awarded a scholarship, he would be forced to transfer.

It remains to be seen what the season holds for the Georgia Bulldogs, but if Blankenship is back, their kicking game should be much more solidified entering 2017.

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