Georgia Football 2018 recruit: Kicker/Punter Jake Camarda

What can we expect in Athens?

I think there is a good chance that we see Camarda win a starting job out of camp. While I feel pretty confident that Rodrigo is going to be the starting kicker for UGA for the rest of his time in Athens, I expect Camarda to still take snaps there and push him. Part of what made ‘Hot Rod’ so good this season was the fact that he was pushed by graduate transfer David Marvin.

But when it comes to punting, I think Camarda might be UGA’s best option on day 1. The Dawgs lose Cameron Nizialek who was himself a graduate transfer. He was also one of the best punters in college football this year and his performance really helped make UGA’s special teams one of the best units in the country.

Fans shouldn’t expect Camarda to instantly be as good as a senior, but he has the talent to be on that same level one day. The real question for 2018 is how good can he be straight away. In 2016, UGA struggled with their punters and Marshall Long ended the season injured. Long averaged 39 yards a punt in 2016 and Nizialek averaged 45 in 2017. Georgia is going to need Camarda to be up around the 42-yard mark next season if he can.

Next: Now let's check out Tackle Owen Condon

Long-term, Camarda could end up becoming a very important player in this class, especially if he takes over for Blankenship as well in the future. That’s something I can see happening with a player this talented. While special teams players are often overlooked, this could well be another player who makes some big plays for Georgia before his time is through.