A former Georgia Bulldogs kicker, known for his trademark thick-rimmed glasses, delivered a flawless moment on national television that lit up the college football world. Rodrigo Blankenship reminded everyone why he’s still “Hot Rod” during ESPN College GameDay’s visit for the No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 9 Georgia showdown.
As fans filled the GameDay set in Athens, Blankenship calmly stepped up and drilled a kick worth $600,000, splitting the uprights with the same precision that made him a Bulldogs legend.
Blankenship’s $600K Kick on GameDay Ignites NFL Comeback Calls
The segment took place during Pat McAfee’s popular GameDay kicking contest, where a student typically attempts a field goal to win money. This time, award-winning singer Jelly Roll joined the set as the guest picker and decided to try his luck first.
His first kick missed wide left, even after jokingly asking Kirk Herbstreit to “tee it up on his toe like on the playground.” The crowd chanted for another attempt, and Jelly Roll brought in a ringer, Georgia legend Blankenship — for a double-or-nothing shot worth $600,000.
Blankenship, who kicked for Georgia from 2015 to 2019 before moving to the NFL, lined up and nailed the field goal effortlessly. Fans erupted, both at the set and online, with comments flooding social media praising the kicker’s flawless form.
JELLY ROLL BROUGHT OUT RODRIGO BLANKENSHIP TO WIN $600K FOR CHARITY 😱
“HOT ROD” STILL GOT IT 🥽 pic.twitter.com/MxvfVBX2ml
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 18, 2025
“Bro just went up there and calmly one-stepped it this shi too easy for him,” one fan wrote.
Another added, “How is he not signed but Jake Moody is??”
Others echoed similar thoughts, saying, “Still blows my mind that he’s not playing in the NFL,” and another said, “As a Titans fan I’d trade Slye for him.”
Wearing a Georgia Bulldogs jacket and his signature glasses, Blankenship looked as sharp as ever, proving that his precision remains intact. His appearance came at a time when he was still a free agent after stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Blankenship’s resume speaks for itself. During his college career from 2016 to 2019, he earned the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top placekicker in 2019 and was named first-team All-America by outlets including USA Today, AFCA Coaches, Sports Illustrated, Walter Camp, Bleacher Report, and Pro Football Focus.
He played a major role in Georgia’s string of success, which included three straight 11-win seasons, three SEC East titles, and appearances in three consecutive New Year’s Six bowls, the 2018 Rose Bowl, and the 2019 and 2020 Allstate Sugar Bowls.
