Rodrigo Blankenship, Indianapolis Colts. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
On January 8, 2025, the United Football League announced that placekicker Rodrigo Blankenship had signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Born on January 29, 1997, in Marietta, Georgia, Rodrigo John Blankenship began his football journey at Sprayberry High School, where he was a two-sport athlete. Choosing football over soccer, he walked on at the University of Georgia in 2015. Initially redshirting his first year, Blankenship’s big break came when he stepped in as the Bulldogs’ kicker.
A record-long 55-yard field goal in the 2018 Rose Bowl highlighted Blankenship’s collegiate career, giving Georgia an overtime victory over Oklahoma. In 2019, he was given the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top college placekicker after leading the SEC in field goal attempts and conversions, never missing a single extra point in his college career (200/200).
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Blankenship signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. His rookie season was promising, as he made both extra-point attempts and two out of three field goals in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 11 against the Green Bay Packers, Blankenship clinched a 34-31 victory with a 39-yard field goal in overtime, earning him the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. His stats for the 2020 season included a conversion rate of 32 out of 37 field goals, with a long of 53 yards. However, subsequent seasons saw fluctuations in his performance, leading to his release from the Colts in 2022.
After his stint with Indianapolis, Blankenship spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the Cardinals in 2022, he made both field goals in a game against the New Orleans Saints, but injuries and competition for the kicking position led to his release. His attempt to secure a position with the Buccaneers in 2023 did not pan out in his favor, as he was waived after competing with Chase McLaughlin for the role.
His career statistics feature an 84% field goal rate (47/56) over three NFL seasons.
In January 2025, “Hot Rod” Rodrigo Blankenship signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL.
