ATHENS — Georgia has a kicking problem.
That’s a rarity for the Bulldogs, who have one of the greatest place-kicking traditions in college football. And it wasn’t expected to be an issue this season with junior Jack Podlesny coming back after a stellar 2020 season.
But the kicker known as “Hot Pod,” after his legendary predecessor Rodrigo “Hot Rod” Blankenship, has experienced some early hiccups. He has missed two of his first three field-goal attempts, with the failed kicks coming from just 32- and 36-yards. His one successful kick was from 22 yards out. Podlesny also has grazed an upright on one of his nine point-after attempts and been well off center on a few others.
“Yeah, he’s battling through it, he’s pushing through,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said in his media briefing Tuesday evening. “I thought he kicked the ball well today. We actually just walked off the field and did field-goal periods, and I thought he kicked the ball well.”
Fortunately for the Bulldogs, they haven’t been in a contest where every point mattered. It certainly could have in the season opener against then-No. 3 Clemson. There was still no score in the first quarter when a Georgia offensive drive stalled at the Tigers’ 19. Podlesny pulled the 36-yard attempt left. The Bulldogs held on to win 10-3.
Credit: UGA Athletics
Credit: UGA Athletics
In Saturday’s 56-7 win over UAB, Georgia led 49-0 late in the third quarter when Podlesny pushed his 32-yard attempt wide right.
The No. 2-ranked Bulldogs are 30-plus-point favorites against South Carolina at Sanford Stadium. But Georgia knows it’s just a matter of time before it’s in a tight game when place-kicking could be the difference.
For now, Smart remains patient and hopeful that Podlesny can work out the kinks. But the Bulldogs have options.
Redshirt freshman Jared Zirkel was 247Sports.com’s No. 4-ranked place-kicker in the nation when he signed with Georgia out of Kerrville, Texas, in 2020. And senior punter Jake Camarda was a nationally-rated place-kicker when he signed with Georgia out of Norcross. He currently handles kickoffs for the Bulldogs and practices place-kicking every day.
“We’re always in competition, as you well know,” Smart said. “It’s one of those things that we’ve got to help (Podlesny) out and push him. He’s been really consistent in his career as a starter here. I still believe in him and we’re gonna work through it. I think he’s still got a great leg and, you know, he’s hit clutch field goals multiple times. But we’re pushing through it.”
A junior from St. Simons Island, Podlesny out-dueled Zirkel for the starting job last season. He was good on 13-of-16 field goal attempts, including a 53-yard game-winner in the final seconds of a 24-21 victory over No. 8 Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl last New Year’s Day.
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