Georgia Football: 5 Dawgs who could break out in Atlanta

4. Rodrigo Blankenship:

Nobody likes talking about a kicker. They especially don’t when that kicker hasn’t missed anything big or cost their team the game. Want me to prove this? Well, I couldn’t find any pictures of Rodrigo in Getty images, hence the stock image. I could find several pictures of Austin Seibert who missed OU’s kick in overtime, however. That about sums it up.

But the man they call ‘specs’ is going to be crucial for UGA tonight. No player has made a bigger jump from 2016 to 2017 than Rodrigo in my opinion. He has gone from a kicker who you kind of trust, to one of the best in the nation in less than 12 months.

When Kirby gave him a scholarship just before the Notre Dame game, I thought it was deserved. But the way he has played since has been beyond even what I thought possible for the guy. He has made 85% of his kicks this season and when the team really needed him last week, the guy responded with a career-best 55 yarder.

This is going to be a tight game. Like I said, I don’t think it’s going to get out of hand on either side so kicking is going to be crucial. Rodrigo has done a great job of kicking touchbacks which is important against this great Tide special teams unit. Georgia will need him to do that and make field goals when the opportunity arises.

I know it’s boring to think about Kickers deciding games, but sometimes they do. Don’t be surprised if UGA needs to lean on Blankenship one final time this season.