Eric Williams
NFL reporter
Unable to get a spot of roster for an entire season final yr, Rodrigo Blankenship has determined to pursue a undertaking to recuperate his dream job of the NFL that the previous Kicker UFL Brandon Aubrey and Jake Bates took benefit of in spring soccer.
“There has definitely been a set priority through which in case you can kick at a really excessive stage in a spring alloy, it may well definitely give you alternatives,” mentioned Blankenship to Fox Sports. “Jake Bates final yr had actually large kicks. Branden Aubrey, when he was with the stallions, was solely computerized for them for a pair (of) years, after which he had his alternative and he’s additionally crushing him.
“This has definitely given me loads of hope and loads of inspiration to see that if you are able to do and do your job, I hope the alternatives might be there for you when all the things is claimed and accomplished.”
Blankenship signed with St. Louis Battlehawks in January after collaborating in a UFL Showcase in San Diego hosted by the previous NFL participant John Karney the earlier month. So far his plan has labored completely.
The Georgia product went 21 out of twenty-two on Goal on the pitch throughout the common season with 56 yard lengthy. The solely kicker near the achievement of these leads to the UFL was Birmingham Stallions Harrison Mevis, who made 20 of the 21 targets on the sphere with lengthy 54 yard. The lonely younger woman for Mevis was 63 yard, whereas Blankenship had a 58 yard Field Goal bouncing from the crossbar.
Blankenship received the Lou Groza Award as finest kicker in college soccer in his final season in Georgia in 2019. He entered the NFL as Rookie not drawn up with the Indianapolis Colts, lastly incomes the preliminary work. However, Blankenship underwent a hip damage throughout his second season that landed him on IR. He was revoked after the season of the season of his third season with the Colts, lacking a 42 Yarder who would have received the sport in extraordinary.
Blankenship appeared in a recreation with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 and misplaced a soccer competitors to chase McLoughlin with the bucanieri of Tampa Bay throughout the 2023 coaching subject. It ended 47 for 56 (83.9%) on Goal within the subject with a protracted interval of 53 yard throughout its three seasons within the NFL.
Blankenship is absolutely wholesome after present process surgical procedure to restore his hip damage in January 2023. He and his spouse moved to Birmingham, Alabama, the place his lengthy -standing soccer coach, Mike McCabe, lives. The away yr supplied time to work on his occupation and mirror on his profession. Blankenship has revealed weekly updates of his coaching periods final yr on social media.
“It was totally different,” he mentioned. “It was somewhat irritating, to not obtain a cellphone name all through the season, but it surely was a second for me to should develop mentally and emotionally – having to persevere and should observe the trail. Just to belief me that any flooring are in retailer for me is happening in the best way they need to.”
Blankenship was one of many predominant the explanation why Battlehawks is a finest 8-2 of the League that heads for the post-installation. St. Louis hosts the DC Defenders (6-4) within the match of the title of the XFL Conference on Sunday (18:00 et on Fox and Fox Sports App), adopted by the stallions of the reigning champion (7-3) will host Michigan Panthers (6-4) within the recreation of the title of the USFL convention (3 PM ET).
Here is a extra shut take a look at what else to regulate throughout the weekend of the convention championship.
Game of the title of the XFL convention: Battlehawks vs. Defenders
The two groups separated throughout the common season, whereas the defenders defeated the double-digit Battlehawk, 27-15, in St. Louis in week 3 when Manny Wilkins was nonetheless the beginning quarterback. However, the Battlehawks took care of the defenders within the closing recreation of the common season, 13-8, with each groups that relaxation the important thing gamers for the playoffs.
The head of the coach of St. Louis Anthony Becht is 15-6 (together with the post-installation) in two years within the UFL and ended with a file of 7-3 throughout his season in The Legacy XFL. The interim coach of defenders Shannon Harris is 6-4 in his season on the helm. The defenders maintain a file of all time of 4-3 towards Battlehawks.
Key Matchup: Battlehawks Defense Vs. Defenders to style Jordan Torrents
A robust level for St. Louis this season was the highly effective race of the staff’s passage, led by the UFL defensive candidate of the yr Pita Taumopenu (7.5 baggage). The Battlehawks stored the groups at a League in low 16.3 factors per recreation and completed tied for 9 interceptions within the championship throughout the yr.
However, St. Louis faces the perfect director of director of the UFL director this season with the Mvp Frontrunnner Ta’amu. The Ole Miss product arrived first within the league in passive landing (17) and second within the UFL on the passing websites (2,153). Preventing ta’amu from creating explosive video games might be an absolute precedence for the protection of St. Louis.
Key statistics: Battlehawks who ran again Jacob Saylors got here second within the UFL in development websites within the operating with 499, main an offense of St. Louis who handed the League within the operating, with a mean of 144 development websites. St. Louis Jahcour Pearson’s receiver led the beginning -up yard championship of Punt with 294. St. Louis to style Max Duggan leads all sign calls with 300 yard operating and has scored 5 precipitating landing throughout the common season.
The receiver of the defenders Chris Rowland led the UFL in development websites for all makes use of (1,100) throughout the common season. Rowland’s teammate, Cornell Powell, handed the championship in receiving landing with seven. Derick Roberson and Andre Mintze closed with a Sack 5.5 on the staff stage every, whereas the ALL-UFL ANTHONY HINES III lineback led the defenders with 53 mixed contrasts.
Game of the title of the UFL convention: stalloni vs. Panthers
The stallions are searching for their fourth consecutive spring soccer championship, having received consecutive USFL titles and the primary UFL championship final season. “With staff 2025, I’m simply making an attempt to win a championship with this staff,” mentioned Birmingham Skip Holtz coach. The stallions are 39-7 underneath Holtz.
On the opposite hand, Michigan Mike Nolan’s head of coach introduced the panthers to the playoffs for a second consecutive yr, publishing a file of 17-15 in two seasons.
This is the eighth assembly between the 2 groups and Birmingham has a file of all time for 7-0. The panthers take part within the race of this weekend in a sequence of defeats in two video games. However, All-Ufl QB Bryce Perkins had misplaced the final three video games with an ankle damage, however ought to play on Sunday. The stallions swept the season of the season this yr and defeated the panthers within the USFL championship match final season, 31-18.
Matchup key: Stallonions Defensive Line VS. Panthers speeding offense
The finest risk of Michigan to stallions’ superb is the management of the scrimmage line by establishing the operating recreation, enjoying to maintain the offense of Birmingham away from an offense that has marked on common 33 factors a race within the final 4 video games.
The panthers are second within the UFL within the operating, with a mean of 128 development websites. Michigan has the perfect brief movie that returns to the championship in Toa Taua, who led the championship with six hasty touchdowns. And Perkins’ return presents the panthers a dynamic double menace quarterback that may play video games together with your ft and arm in house.
Key statistics: Panthers’ Siaosi Mariner receiver guided the UFL in reception Yard with 528. The cornerback All-Ufl Kedrick Whitehead Jr. led the Michigan with 66 mixed contrasts. The panthers dedicated 12 turnover with seven misplaced fumbles and 5 interceptions throughout the common season. The stallions compelled 16 turnover this season, linked to 3rd place within the UFL.
The chief of the Sacchi of Birmingham Bradlee Anae (4.0 baggage) ought to return to coaching after shedding two video games on account of an damage to the knee tendon. The lineback Kyahva Tezino guided the stallions with 57 contrasts, together with 5 contrasts for loss. Tezino additionally completed with lots, a breakdown of the passage and a compelled fumble. QB J’Mar Smith contributed to main the stallions to a USFL title in 2022 and was the Savior of the Birmingham offense from his half -season return, going to 52 by 80 for 758 yard with six landing and an interception in 4 video games performed.
Eric D. Williams reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for Espn and Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him to @eric_d_williams.
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