Position By Position Breakdown: Notre Dame vs. Georgia
By Matt Clark
Special Teams
Georgia Bulldogs Placekicker-Rodrigo Blankenship 6’0″, 190 pound, senior, 3 star recruit out of Marietta, GA.
5-5 in field goal attempts, 50 yard longest field goal, 19-19 in extra point attempts in three games in 2019.
Georgia Bulldogs Punter-Jake Camarda 6’2″, 180 pound, sophomore, 3 star recruit out of Norcross, GA.
Seven punts, averaging 50 yards, with a longest punt of 63 yards in three games in 2019.
Georgia Bulldogs Kick Returner-Tyler Simmons 5’10”, 205 pound, senior, 3 star recruit out of Powder Springs, GA.
Seven returns for 137 yards, with a long return of 42 yards in three games in 2019.
Georgia Bulldogs Punt Returner-James Cook 5’11”, 185 pound, sophomore, 3 star recruit out of Miami, FL.
One return for 34 yards in three games in 2019.
Notre Dame Irish Placekicker-Jonathan Doerer 6’3″, 190 pound, junior, 3 star recruit out of Charlotte, NC.
1-1 in field goal attempts, 36 yard longest field goal, 12-12 in extra point attempts in two games in 2019.
Notre Dame Punter-Jay Bramblett 6’2″, 175 pound, freshman, 3 star recruit out of Tuscaloosa, AL.
Ten punts, averaging 39.9 yards, with a longest punt of 48 yards in two games in 2019.
Notre Dame Kick Returner-Lawrence Keys III 5’11”, 160 pound, sophomore, 4 star recruit out of New Orleans, LA.
One kickoff return for 45 yards in two games in 2019.
Notre Dame Punt Returner-Chris Finke 5’9″, 185 pound, senior, former walk-on from Dayton, OH.
Two punt returns for 15 yards, with a longest return of 17 yards in two games in 2019.
Advantage-Draw
Georgia has the advantage in the kicking game. Most of that is due to experience. However, Bulldogs placekicker Rodrigo Blankenship was listed on the preseason watchlist for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the nation’s top collegiate placekicker.
The fact that Doerer is replacing all-time Notre Dame scoring leader Justin Yoon, who graduated following last season, and has limited experience so far this year, is cause for concern.
Jake Camarda was the punter last season for Georgia, while Bramblett is in his first year as a starter, following the departure of Tyler Newsome. As a result, the Bulldog’s experience in the kicking game could prove critical if the game is close.
On the other hand, the Irish have the advantage in the return game. Keys has elite speed that makes him a threat to take a return to the house every time he touches the ball. Finke is a veteran punt returner and has proven himself a solid return man over the years.
If this game remains tight, the special teams may prove to be the deciding factor in this game. It will be interesting to see how the young, inexperienced kickers of the Irish hold up to the pressures of this critical game.