The St. Louis Battlehawks signed kicker Rodrigo Blankenship on Wednesday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Rodrigo Blankenship is six foot one and weighs 184 pounds. The 27-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2020.
Blankenship played a little over two seasons in Indianapolis making 45 of 54 field goals (83.3%) with a long of 53 yards, made 52 of 55 field goals, and 30 kickoffs for 1,862 yards (62.0 AVG), and 19 touchbacks in 22 games. The Colts released him on September 13, 2022.
The Arizona Cardinals signed Blankenship on October 18, 2022. In 2022, he made 1 of 2 field goals (50%) with a long of 50 yards, 2 of 3 extra points, 14 kickoffs for 916 yards (65 AVG), and 13 touchbacks in two games. The Cardinals released him on November 2, 2022.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Blankenship on June 15, 2023. In 2023, he made 2 of 4 field goals (50%), with a long of 35 yards, and two kickoffs for 125 yards (62.5 AVG). The Buccaneers released him on August 21, 2023.
Collegiately, Blankenship played four seasons at Georgia (2016-19) making 80 of 97 field goals (82.5%), with a long of 55 yards, 330 kickoffs for 20,898 yards (63.3 AVG), 234 touchbacks, one carry for -2 yards, and four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) in 41 games for the Bulldogs.
In the 2018 Rose Bowl Game against the Oklahoma Sooners, Blankenship kicked a 55-yard field goal which was the longest field goal made in Rose Bowl history. He was named First Team All-SEC in 2019, Second Team All-SEC in 2018, and the winner of the Lou Groza Award in 2019 as the nation’s top placekicker.
