NFL combine invitee: Rodrigo Blankenship, K, Georgia, (Sprayberry HS)

Thirty-two players with Georgia connections (26 from Georgia high schools, six from Georgia colleges) have been invited to the NFL scouting combine, which will be held Feb. 23-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The number is up from the 25 players who were invited in 2019.

Ten Georgia Bulldogs players are invited. In 2018, they had 12 led by Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

In 2016, a total of 26 players with Georgia ties competed at the combine. In 2015, there were 37. In 2014, 23 players and in 2013, 29 and in 2012, there were 26.

There were also more than 30 players (31) in 2011.

Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, a potential top-10 NFL draft pick, heads the list of former Bulldogs on the list of 337 players who have been invited.

The first on-field drills will start Feb. 27.

Today, we’ll look at Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship:

Rodrigo Blankenship, 6-1, 187, K, Sprayberry High, Georgia. Clutch baller. Made four field goals in three games over his career, at Kentucky in 2016; vs. Missouri in 2017; vs. Missouri, 2019; vs. Texas A&M, 2019. His longest field goal was 55 yards against Oklahoma in 2019. He was a first-Team All-America by USA Today, AFCA Coaches, Sports Illustrated, Walter Camp, Bleacher Report and Pro Football Focus. He was All-SEC first-team by the Associated Press and Coaches. He can also kickoff. Just 11 of his 85 kickoffs were returned, with 65 others resulting in touchbacks. "He should be the first kicker off the board," NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein writes.

Georgia Bulldogs place kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (98) after kicking one of his two first-half field goals.  Bob Andres  bandres@ajc.com

Credit: Bob Andres

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Credit: Bob Andres

Here are the other players with Georgia connections who have been invited to the combine:

Player, Pos., High school, college

Tremayne Anchrum, OL, McEachern HS, Clemson
Tyler Bass, PK, Dutch Fork (S.C.), Georgia Southern
Essang Bassey, DB, Columbus HS, Wake Forest
Rodrigo Blankenship, K, Sprayberry HS, Georgia
Derrick Brown, DT, Lanier HS, Auburn
Harrison Bryant, TE, John Milledge Academy, Florida Atlantic
Lawrence Cager, WR, Calvert Hall (Md.), Georgia
Marquez Callaway, WR, Warner Robins HS, Tennessee
Quintez Cephus, WR, Stratford Academy, Wisconsin
Josiah Coatney, DL, Chapel Hill HS, Mississippi
DeeJay Dallas, RB, Glynn Academy, Miami
Kyle Dugger, DB, Whitewater HS, Lenoir-Rhyne
Blake Ferguson, LS, Buford HS, LSU
Jake Fromm, QB, Houston County HS, Georgia
Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Paulding County HS, Liberty
Antonio Gibson, WR, Eagle's Landing HS, Memphis
Jonathan Greenard, DL, Hiram HS, Florida
Brian Herrien, RB, New Manchester HS, Georgia
Solomon Kindley, OL, Raines (Fla.), Georgia
Jordan Mack, LB, Wesleyan School, Virginia
Xavier McKinney, DB, Roswell HS, Alabama
Jared Pinkney, TE, Norcross HS, Vanderbilt
J.R. Reed, DB, Prestonwood Christian (Texas), Georgia
Chauncey Rivers, DL, Stephenson HS, Mississippi State
D'Andre Swift, RB, St. Joseph's Prep (Pa.), Georgia
A.J. Terrell, DB, Westlake HS, Clemson
Andrew Thomas, OL, Pace Academy, Georgia
Kindle Vildor, DB, North Clayton HS, Georgia Southern
Isaiah Wilson, OL, Poly Prep Country Day (N.Y), Georgia
Charlie Woerner, TE, Rabun County HS, Georgia
D.J. Wonnum, DL, Stephenson HS, South Carolina
Jabari Zuniga, DL, Sprayberry HS, Florida