UGASports continues its look at the best Georgia players statistically under Kirby Smart. Parts one, two, and three dealt more with the offensive numbers. Part four of six deals with special teams. The kicking, the returning, the punting and much more are here. Let’s look back at whose has been the best from 2016 to the present. Remember these are just stats during that time and not those accumulated under Mark Richt and Bryan McClendon.
The four made field goals in a game is tied for second most in a game and has happened 19 times, by ten different players. Billy Bennett holds the Georgia mark (which is also tied for the highest in SEC history) with six made field goals against Gerogia Tech in 2001.
The 27 field goals in a season that Rodrigo Blankenship had in 2019 is also second most to Bennett's mark of 31 set in 2003. Continuing the theme, the 80 that Blankenship made in his career was also second behind Bennett's 87.
But what about percentages?
Blankenship and Jack Podlesny are two of three Georgia kickers who have percentages over 80 or higher during their career. The other was Brandon Coutu, who had an percentage of 80.3% in his career from 2004 to 2007.
The longest field goal in the Smart era was 55 yards by Blankenship on the last play before halftime of the 2018 Rose Bowl against Oklahoma. One of the field goals that was tied for the second longest was by Podlesny and his 53-yard attempt to win the 2021 Peach Bowl against Cincinnati. In all, the Dawgs have had nine field goals that were 50 yards or longer since 2016 (Blankenship had six and Podlesny had three).
Extra points is something Georgia excelled at throughout the years. When Podlesny missed one against Kentucky in 2021, it was not only the first missed point of the season, but also the first under Smart. The Bulldogs' NCAA record streak started in 2014 and ended last season. Marshall Morgan, Patrick Beless, William Ham, David Marvin, Blankenship and Podlesny all had a part of 363 consecutive made extra points.
Field goals and extra points give kickers many points throughout their career, but who had the most?
The 17 points in a game by Blankenship was the second-most in a game behind Bennett's 19 set in the 2001 Georgia Tech game. The 137 in a season by Podlesny is a Georgia record. The 440 in a career by Blankenship is not only the most by a Bulldog, but is the second-highest in SEC history behind Auburn's Daniel Carlson's 474.
What about the return men? Check out Georgia's leaders -
Terry Godwin has the only kickoff return for a touchdown under Smart and that was the 43-yard return on a failed onside kick by the Gamecocks in 2016. The longest return in this time was 56 yards by Kearis Jackson against Florida in 2020. Also, Reggie Davis' 486 yards were under Smart. He fell two yards shy of reaching 1,000 under all coaches.
What about punt returns?
Both Isaiah McKenzie and Mecole Hardman each return punts for touchdowns for the Dawgs. McKenzie's went 82 yards and Hardman's went 70. Eric Stokes also returned one for a touchdown 27 yards after his blocked the punt. Don't forget about Zamir White picking up a score after Dan Jackson blocked a punt this past season against Arkansas.
Those were the returners, what about the Bulldogs who punted the ball?
Jake Camarda had the longest punt under Smart going 68 yards in the 2021 SEC Championship against Alabama. His 11 punts against Auburn in 2019 was tied for third most ever in a game by a Bulldog.
In terms of blocking kicks, Stokes and Jackson were mentioned above, but Zamir White also blocked a punt of his own. D'Andre Walker and Nolan Smith did as well.
J.R. Reed had a blocked field goal against Samford in 2017 and Devonte Wyatt had one in 2021 against Kentucky. However, It seemed like Georgia came up big when the stage was the biggest in terms of blocking field goals. DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle had one in 2017 SEC Championship, Lorenzo Carter had one in the 2018 Rose Bowl against Oklahoma, Jordan Davis in the 2021 Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati and most recently it was Jalen Carter against Alabama in the 2020 CFP Championship against Alabama.
Another big special teams play happened in a big game when Tae Crowder recovered a line-drive squib kick with six seconds before halftime against Oklahoma in the 2018 Rose Bowl which set up the Blankenship blast.
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