Last season as a redshirt freshman walk-on, Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship won the job based upon his excellent consistency.

Blankenship connected on 14-of-18 attempts in 2016. After initially beginning the year as the backup, there no question he was ultimately the best option on the team.

Via a report from Dawg Nation, head coach Kirby Smart met with Blankenship and parents on Monday. The plan tentatively is to put Blankenship on scholarship for the next school year, and even that isn’t a certainty.

His father, Ken Sr., spoke about the ordeal:

“He loves the team. But even more than ever he is so proud to be a contributing member of this team. He loves the Dawgs. He is not leaving the university. He is not going anywhere. He wants nothing more than to be part of it. He’s staying, in kind of a confused and disappointed state.”

Brother Ken Jr. also chimed in:

“We think he has earned it already. My brother as a walk-on is being treated like a walk-on who didn’t even get on the field, or for only a few downs. But he led the team in scoring.You take care of your own. You take care of those in your family that take care of you. And you show them in return that you reward the hard work of your inner family with what they deserve.”

If Georgia put Blankenship on scholarship immediately, it would count against the 2017 class. As such, Georgia is willing to apparently save that scholarship for a current ’17 recruit.