The is the second in a series that will run three times a week over the next four weeks, leading into SEC media days.
This year is unique, as we go into the season not actually knowing who will be Georgia's placekicker. Two walk-ons competed in the spring, with Rodrigo Blankenship (Marietta's Sprayberry) may have emerged with a slight edge over William Ham (Macon's Stratford Academy). And now a third walk-on, Mitchell Wasson from Marietta's Lassiter High School, joins the fray.
The winner of this competition, by the way, might be rewarded with a scholarship, at least for the season. So if you think quarterback is intense …
11. THE PLACE-KICKER TO BE NAMED LATER
(Rodrigo Blankenship, R-Fr.; or William Ham, Soph.; or Mitchell Wasson, Fr.)
Place-kicker
WHY HE'S VITAL: Georgia had three games last year that arguably were decided by field goals: A three-point win over Missouri, the overtime win over Georgia Southern (a touchdown ended it, but Morgan's field goal helped in regulation) and the six-point win over Georgia Tech. The Missouri win was the most due to kicking, with Morgan making a 34-yarrder with 1:44 left, after missing a 26-yarder four minutes before that. There have been other games where field goals made the difference. But Georgia hasn't had many of those late, game-deciding kicking situations. Maybe it's due.
QUOTABLE: "On field goals it will come down to William and Rodrigo as I don't see the consistency in Wasson's leg yet. He does have some power but that is usually a trait with all young kickers but the consistency in college is what counts. Wasson also does not have the college experience yet with getting the ball off quicker and higher. He will also need to show he can effectively kick through college /professional goal posts since they are five feet closer than high school. At least Rod and William have been doing this for awhile." – Marc Nolan, a respected kicking coach in Atlanta who has worked with several of the candidates.
BEST CASE: A clear winner emerges in the preseason and runs away with the job, and is able to work his way in slowly against North Carolina with some easy field goals and/or extra points. Morgan (who's trying to make the Buffalo Bills) went 18-for-25 last year on field goals, while making all his extra points. Considering the inexperience factor, that seems a realistic "best case" for this year's kicker. But Morgan's junior season (16-for-21) isn't too much to ask for either.
WORST CASE: Not only does a winner not emerge in the preseason, but the place-kicker becomes a revolving door and stays that way through the season, Smart and special teams coordinator Shane Beamer struggling to find the right guy. And it costs Georgia some games.
FINAL WORD: It's always impossible to predict circumstances, but Georgia has a handful of games that set up as potentially close – including North Carolina, Missouri and Ole Miss in the first month alone. For that reason, and many others, place-kicker is almost as worth a close watch as that other competition. Almost.
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