Rodrigo Blankenship named to 2019 Groza Award, Wuerffel Trophy watch lists

UGA senior kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has been named to the 2019 Groza Award and Wuerffel Award watch lists.

The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, named after legendary place-kicker Lou Groza, is an annual college football award given to the nation’s best kicker by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

Blankenship, who hails from Marietta, Georgia, connected on 19-of-23 field goal attempts last season (82.6%). He also made all 65 of his extra-point attempts and is currently 100% for his career in Athens (154-of-154).

Rodrigo Blankenship was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award the past two seasons. Syracuse sophomore Andre Szmyt won the award in 2018 after becoming just the second kicker in FBS history to lead all players in points scored per game.

20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will be announced on Thursday, November 7 followed by the three finalists on Tuesday, November 26. The winner of the Groza ward will be announced on Thursday, December 12 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

The Wuerffel Trophy, named after former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, is presented by the Chick-fil-A Foundation to the college football player who “best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.”

Blankenship was also named to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy last season. Semifinalists for the 2019 award will be announced on Tuesday, November 5, followed by the finalists on Monday, November 18. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 10 at the National Football Foundation’s festivities in New York City .

The Georgia Bulldogs open the 2019 season with an SEC road game at the Vanderbilt Commodores. The game will be televised by the SEC Network at 7:30pm ET.

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