Should he be the Mountain West Player of the Year? Can Chris Olave revitalize the Saints' aerial attack? The Ray Guy Award winner and unanimous First-Team All-American declared for the NFL Draft last week with hopes of becoming the next punter drafted in the NFL. He has 28 punts of 50-plus yards; the NCAA record is 32, set in 1994. against San Jose State in October. Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News. And remember, the Big Punt wasnt even Araizas longest punt of the year. Playing sports is what I love. 0. Araiza, who began his career at San Diego State as a kicker, also converted 96 of 97 extra point attempts and 50 of 68 field goal attempts (73.5 percent), with a long of 54. I have started watching San Diego State games specifically to see Araiza punt. Araiza is a punter by positional designation only - he also kicks field goals and takes San Diego State's kickoffs. Ray Guy, for whom a college football award is named, was a first-round pick in 1973. Dunkle also earned First Team All-American by Pro Football Network and Second Team All-American by the Associated Press. Its a loaded defensive end class, Brugler said. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Matt Araiza is one of the more fascinating prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft which is saying something, considering he's a punter. Thomas, a redshirt junior who earned his degree this December, accepted an invite to play in the Senior Bowl and will look to showcase his top-tier talent to NFL teams. However, his pass-blocking steadily improved throughout the final ten games of the season, and he finished with a 73.3 pass-blocking grade. Sorry, I cantPunt God is playing Fresno State on CBS Sports Network at 10:30 p.m. In the season opener against New Mexico State, Araiza boomed a 77-yarder. Bellinger began training with Jeremy Holt, Owner of AthELITE Performance, yesterday in Music City, USA, along with tight ends Chase Allen (Iowa State) and Jake Ferguson (Wisconsin) in preparation for the NFL Draft. After the first game, I was kinda starting to visualize that. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. And its not because its Jordan Stout. According to Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus, 63 percent of Araiza's punts were downed inside the 20; another 27 were downed inside the 10. Over the past half-decade, 12 punters have been drafted. Teams are not drafting you based on what you have done, notes Brugler. Of the 27 punters drafted in the past 15 seasons, just six of these players have made a Pro Bowl these six punters only made one Pro Bowl each. Thomas will have a chance to separate himself from other edge rushers in his tier as the draft process unfolds with the combine and private team workouts to prove he belongs in one of the top 32 spots., A redshirt junior entering this season, Thomas quickly showed scouts he is a pro prospect with his play to start the season. However, it was there that the power of his left leg was harnessed with a view to a long-term career goal. Braden Mann, the punter who previously held the FBS record with a 50.98 average, was drafted by the New York Jets in the 6th round in 2020. Special teams coaches will want to see his mechanics, how quick hes able to transition, how the ball comes off his leg, the power that he has in person. 8 min read. One of the most important punting stats is net punting average and Araiza finished the year at 44.3, which ranked sixth in the country. When I originally went out for the football team, it wasnt to be a kicker. My sophomore season, we won the state championship, Araiza said. 0 Comment. Even now, on the precipice of turning professional, there is still the glint of pursuing soccer in the eyes of the San Diego State punter. https://t.co/mIr2tYt8LT. Brugler predicts Bellinger will be the second San Diego State player drafted (after Cameron Thomas). You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! He spent time at Qualcomm Stadium watching the San Diego Chargers, enjoying the passionate environment in person but still holding soccer in his heart. Stout was slightly ahead of him at 44.5 while Camarda was well below both guys at 41.6. The 2022 NFL Draft is in the rearview. Per the report, police implicated Carter in street racing, which . He was named to several First and Second All-American Teams by various national media outlets. Plus Stetson and Duggan as Pros With Trent Dilfer (Bonus Episode). Stout was among three finalists for the 2021 Ray Guy Award that went to Araiza as the nations top collegiate punter. Coach Marwan Maalouf, currently coaching special teams at the University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams coach, thinks highly of Araiza. In the NFL, teams have to be able to trust you, and those are two issues that are going to hurt him throughout the process, said Brugler. The first specialist chosen was LSU kicker Cade York, who went to Cleveland in the fourth round, six picks before Stout was taken. I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams.. That shows up when he has to make a tackle. I always knew I could have that level of success, he said. A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. Above is a plot of the average. It was definitely a cool experience.. According to PFF, Dunkle registered a 38.0 pass-blocking grade and committed two penalties against Arizona and a 55.6 grade against Utah the following week on 18 pass opportunities in each game. NFL Draft. On Wednesday, Georgia police announced a warrant for Carter's arrest on suspicion of reckless driving and racing. I remember talking to my friends and family about it really early on, How cool would it be to even just be a finalist? It was a cool progression to make, visualizing it in the beginning and then it becoming a reality was an honor.. The Buffalo Bills selected San Diego State punter Matt Araiza with the first pick of the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft on Saturday. The announcers were astounded. As Matt Araiza prepares to break positional norms in the 2022 NFL Draft class, his talents as a punter can be traced back to his roots at Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego. One of those is national recognition for its most talented players who caught the eyes of NFL scouts looking for the next great professional prospect. With this one punt, Araiza won the college football weekend:. Bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two touchdowns. Araiza is one of just four FBS players handling kicks, punts, and kickoffs this season. To demonstrate the rarified air that the San Diego State punter is kicking in, fellow NFL Draft prospect Jake Camarda has a career-long of 68 yards. Araiza found a home at SDSU, not far from where he grew up. I know how I did at the combine. But since 2000, nobody has gone higher than Bryan Anger, who was picked 70th by the Jaguars in 2012. The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. EVT caught up with Dane Brugler, NFL Draft Analyst for The Athletic, to gain some insight on how teams are evaluating the Aztecs enrollees as the draft process is set to begin. The Aztecs are 7-0 and have the nation's 5th-ranked defense with a potent rushing offense. Wingspan 73 1/8 As mentioned before, Araiza is incredibly versatile and can help the special teams unit in an impactful way. This might have been due to a tendency by head coach Brady Hoke to put him in aggressive scoring situations, asking Araiza to attempt many tries from 40 yards and beyond in later seasons (he was 3-of-9 from 50+ yards in 2021). Araiza could have pursued soccer as a career. Brugler assesses that Araiza, the top punter in the draft, will likely be a Day 3 draftee (rounds four through seven) and could go early in Day 3 depending on how impressive he performs during team workouts. I know the type of season I put on. Plus, Nadine Smith on the Agendas Behind Wrestling Documentaries. Chad Reuter ranks his favorite picks in each round. That group includes not only several picks taken inside the top 100 overall players, but also four players taken in the second round and another two taken in the first round. While the PFF analytics are excellent indicators of success, NFL teams will trust their evaluations from watching game tape and in-person workouts. Araiza shattered the all-time record of 32 punts of 50 or more yards in a single season, by achieving 39. In the NFL, only two players can release, so additional time to get downfield is significant. Theyre three different skills that each require practice, and a human leg can swing only so many times before it gets overworked. Pat McAfee, all that stuff was hilarious, seeing some of the memes were really funny, the nicknames, all that stuff. A story of soccer to San Diego, from punter to Punt God. The junior punter-placekicker from San Diego State is headed to the Buffalo Bills after being chosen Saturday with the first pick in the sixth round of the annual NFL Draft. several third-round selections at punter. While punter prospects arent rare theyre more commonplace than youd expect no prospect at the position has captured the imagination with a mastery of their craft quite like the San Diego State standout. I dont want it to be in the same corner of the country my whole life. I know my personal traits as an athlete, as a football player, as the leading tackler of a top 25 special teams unit. I dont think I realized how important it was when I made the decision, Araiza said. He. To generate that fan base was a really cool experience and it was awesome to see. There are times where he gets crossed up in pass protection, and his feet get a little stuck in the mud, something Brugler saw on tape against Utah and Arizona, two Power 5 opponents the Aztecs played this year. These were certified piss missiles not to be confused with lucky bounces and rolls. Gennaro Filice provides draft grades for each NFC North team. Mountain West Football: Who Had The Most Turnover Luck In 2022? The Buffalo Bills tweeted out the announcement with a picture of Araiza wearing his red and black Aztecs jersey with now-familiar No. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State University's Matt Araiza. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! There has been one 80-plus-yard punt in the NFL in 2021, by Green Bays Corey Bojorquez. Right now, that involves training hard and recovering sensibly. Since 2001, NFL teams starting drives from inside their own 5-yard line have scored just 16.8 percent of the time. Georgia punter Jake Camarda was taken three picks later by Tampa Bay. The defense is legitimately good, ranking third in the FBS in yards allowed per play. . 2023 USFL College Draft: Three Players From Mountain West Selected, San Diego State Football: Three Questions For Spring Practice. EVT caught up with, Dane Brugler, NFL Draft Analyst for The Athletic. Araiza set a school record for made field goals in a season and ranked sixth in the nation in touchback percentage in 2019. If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable.. By Oliver Hodgkinson April 14, 2022 Jump Around This Article Click to show Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. Meet Matt Araiza, San Diego State punter who could be among the highest-drafted punters of all time, NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. The only other times it happened came in 1993 and 2007. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. Kicking? At the end of Araizas senior season at Rancho Bernardo, he hadnt gotten any scholarship offers, and was still considering soccer as a pathway to his future. Punting you go out there and you swing as hard as you want.. In the latest. Matt Araiza, the San Diego State punter, was one of the most exciting players in all of college football last season, booming kick after kick in a way the sport had never seen before. The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. According to PFF, Dunkle registered a 38.0 pass-blocking grade and committed two penalties against Arizona and a 55.6 grade against Utah the following week on 18 pass opportunities in each game. did he lead the nation in punting average, McCarthy discusses taking over Cowboys' play-calling, Brett Favre welfare funds scandal explained, Reich says Carr 'checks a lot of boxes' after meeting, Lewan explains why Titans put his things in trash bags, Cardinals hire ND's all-time rushing leader as RB coach, Commanders GM: Howell has every chance to win QB job. Nonetheless, the "Punt God" is headed to the AFC East champions. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. All four players have the talent to compete and excel at the next level. Youd think the players at Air Force would be used to dealing with airborne projectiles, but the punt returner just watched as the ball flew over his head. For his career, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt. Will Aidan Hutchinson supercharge the Lions' pass rush? I never saw that coming. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football.He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. And starting this fall, San Diego State also tasked Araiza with doing the thing that he was put on this earth to do: punt the football. But, thats not all Araiza can do. Brugler praised Thomas lateral quickness and constant effort to get to the ball. released on November 30, 2021, Brugler slotted Thomas to the Dallas Cowboys with the 25th pick of the first round, adding, Thomas has been nearly unblockable this season for the Aztecs, currently leading college football with 72 pressures., Thomas won the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year afte. Reacting to the pick, NFL Network broadcaster Rich Eisen said: Let me tell you something, Buffalo Bills fans, you should be very, very happy. In 2015, he broke the San Diego sectional record for field goals in a single season, Rancho Bernardo won a state championship, and he was named to the MaxPreps sophomore All-American team. April 26, 2022 7:52 am MT. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. John Stark from Florida State made it into the second round, way back in 1982. Certainly, a benefit for Araiza is his ability to also excel at kickoffs and handle place-kicking duties if necessary, providing more reason to use a middle-round pick on the Ray Guy Award winner. It was awesome. His older brother has long thought so. Several other three-round mock drafts have slotted Thomas fro, m the first round to not listed. The San Diego State product has shot up draft boards (relatively) thanks to a season in which he set an NCAA record by averaging 51.19 yards per punt, eclipsing the record set by Texas A&M's Braden Mann in 2018. Bills select San Diego St. punter Matt Araiza in sixth round of 2022 NFL Draft Published: Apr 30, 2022 at 04:09 PM Grant Gordon Digital Content Editor Though the Buffalo Bills got the third. Yes, he was already on pace to set the all-time yards-per-punt record, and yes, Araiza had hit an 86-yard punt the week before. But, I knew I had the potential and once I got rocking and rolling, everything would work out as it did.. Hes quick to find the football, and hes always in pursuit mode., Another attribute teams love about Thomas is his versatility to play up and down the line of scrimmage. Of Araiza's 79 punts, 37 went for at least 50 yards; 17 went for 60 yards or more; six went at least 70 yards; and two went for 80-plus yards (no other punter had two punts of 80 yards). The San Diego, California native has a career kicking percentage of over 73% as the Aztecs kicker. When we spoke on Tuesday night, Araiza called kicking a football really hard the greatest feeling. In addition to punting, he handles placekicking and kickoff duties for San Diego State. Every front office in the NFL may have Araiza at a different spot on their boards come the last week in April, but the standout college special teams player should hear his name called during the 2022 NFL Draft. . In the past 22 years, there have been several third-round selections at punter. Who does Brady Hoke think is the MVP of the undefeated @AztecFB ?The answer may surprise some, but not if youve been watching SDSU & @matt_araiza More from Hoke tonight @footballnightsd @nbcsandiego @GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/6Vh3f56Ms7. Araizas leg strength is remarkable; however, he will need to cut down on the power in certain instances to further achieve NFL success. More than 300 prospects for the . 130) and Georgia's Jake Camarda to the Buccaneers (fourth round, No. He now holds the record for single-season punt average, with 51.19 yards per punt. Based on net punting averages, you can usually find UDFAs who will rank above average at the position in directional punting and hang time.. The first two punters went off the board in the fourth round with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout and the Buccaneers taking Jake Camarda. I know what I bring to the NFL. The legend of the Punt God might have been born on Brookshire Street, but it truly began at the soccer park on 14530 Espola Road. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/ifbf6FjLa0, Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 30, 2022. Nora and Steven break down the most intriguing, silly, and enlightening comments coming out of Indianapolis, Plus, theres talk of the rise of Greef Karga, along with what could become of Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian people, The guys close the show with highlights from NXT and a preview of tonights AEW go-home Dynamite, "The Apostate" is designed to reorient the audience after a lengthy layoff, but the familiar formula ensures we want to keep taking the trip, Meg and Spanners also discuss Aston Martins positive press focusing on Fernando Alonso and touch on Ferraris consistent performance. Its been a huge honor.. It was just to play football, to branch out as an athlete.. But, Araiza isnt an ordinary punter. Araiza broke the all-time record for 60+ yard punts in a single season with 18 altogether. His worse pass-blocking grade came the next week against Towson, registering a 34.3 grade on 26 passing opportunities. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. And, thats kind of where the ability with my feet come from.. In fact, the San Diego State punter and placekicker had his eye on playing in his school's brand-new stadium next season while going for a master's degree. Anger is the only punter chosen earlier than the fourth round since 2005. The San Diego State product has shot up draft boards (relatively) thanks to a season in which he set an NCAA record by averaging 51.19 yards per punt, eclipsing the record set by Texas. 133). Since NFL defenses vary their fronts constantly, Thomas versatility to play inside or outside will give him a boost to climb teams draft boards. I grew up playing three on three on this tiny indoor field, and thats kind of where my love for soccer and sports started. It wasnt surprising that San Diego State punter Matt Araiza lasted until the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, where the Buffalo Bills chose Araiza. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. That was something I never saw coming. But, thats not all Araiza can do. In an interview earlier this month, Araiza told The San Diego Union-Tribune that in practice he sometimes boots the ball 68 yards in the air. Well, that was just a way onto the football roster. All Rights Reserved. Its been huge to have that impact on my home town as well. Matt Araiza, Punt God of the 2022 NFL Draft, The Ray Guy Award caps off an unprecedented season, Staying at home for college, and making an impact on San Diego, Next Page: From struggles to NFL Draft ascension. In the latest CBS Sports mock draft published this week, Ryan Wilson has the Chargers drafting Thomas with the 20th pick in the first round. Before that, the last one came in 2013. What I was asked to do was different from a skill set (perspective) than maybe other players have. San Diego State punter Matt Araiza is unlike anyone who has ever played the position before. If Im punting five to seven times per game and the disparity in average yards is just a few, this doesnt translate to that significant of a difference overall. 11 overall in 1979 by the New Orleans Saints after being a kicker and punter in college. Broad jump 10 and 1 (or 121). He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. He now holds the NCAA records for punting average in a season (51.19), punts over 50 yards (39), and punts over 60 yards (18). The one thing I dont think I ever realized was the level of popularity. Its a loaded defensive end class, Brugler said. A kicker or punter has never finished in the top 10 of Heisman Trophy voting, but thats just because they fashioned the statue after a guy running instead of a guy punting. The signing bonus in that spot last year was $240,152. Something I hadnt really told anyone yet is if my professional football career ends and I still have a bit of gas in the tank, Im going to go out and try to play semi-pro soccer somewhere. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Maybe hell hit one 90 yards this week! Ray Guy, for whom a college football award is named, was a first-round pick in 1973. It was fun, Araiza grinned while reflecting on the craziness of the past season. I thought I was going to play soccer overseas in Europe, he says, so that was the goal for a while., Most kickers and punters specialize in their chosen paths from an early age. Araiza will remember that for some time to come, a perceived snub he will use as motivation. Something went wrong. When I looked up at that ball, it was crazy, Araiza says. The current Ray Guy Award winner is no stranger to accolades. Araiza managed six punts over 70 yards and two in excess of 80 yards. Above is a plot of the average Approximate Value (AV) of a punter per season who has been drafted in the last 15 seasons. San Diego State's Matt Araiza put in a historic year. The 1979 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. I want my life to be an adventure, Araiza said. . Banners rationale is driven by the notion of replacement value. Yet, Araiza went and nailed an 86-yard punt and an 81-yarder in consecutive games against San Jose State and Air Force. r collecting 20.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks this past season. Georgia police have secured a warrant to arrest highly-touted draft prospect Jalen Carter, according to a report from Seth Emerson. Bellinger will have a massive opportunity to show teams that he should be drafted in the top 100 like his former tight end mate, starting with the Senior Bowl and then the NFL Combine. What makes me a top prospect in this year's draft is my ability to aggressively attack the ball, play smart football, and contribute a relentless work ethic to make my team better. Araizas ascension to the summit of his position and the attention that has come with it has been one of the storylines of the college football season. Gennaro Filice provides draft grades for each NFC South team. Brugler ranked Thomas as the 7th-best edge rusher in this draft class last month and says teams view him as a second-round prospect. March 25, 2022 5 min read. What was surprising even shocking, to some is that two punters were selected Saturday ahead of Araiza. The 2022 NFL Draft surprisingly saw just one QB taken in the first two rounds, but that doesn't doom the entire crop to irrelevance. Height 6 and 1 1/8 This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. Araiza will be selected early on Day Two, if not late in the first round. Brugler praised Thomas lateral quickness and constant effort to get to the ball. Bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two touchdowns. He spends the evenings with his award-winning legs cast in a recovery boot. MORE:NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. 180 overall pick in the sixth round on Saturday. They attend expensive camps and begin perfecting their form. San Diego State Aztecs punter Matt Araiza has been the talk of the college football universe this season, with his ridiculous distance and precision playing a major role in San Diego State's victories. So, what's next for this group -- in 2022 and beyond? In this years tight end class, Brugler ranked Ferguson 12th, one spot higher than Bellinger. I just mean Matt Araiza out of San Diego State is maybe the best punter Ive seen in my lifetime and, yet, Baltimore likes Stout., And after Camarda was selected: Am I the only one Araizas the guy we all focused in on.. DUDE HE PUNTED IT FROM THE END ZONE TO THE OPPOSING 18-YARD LINE ON THE FLYTHIS GUY IS THE GREATEST PUNTER OF ALL TIME pic.twitter.com/ED5OyqZ83k, Rancho Bernardo Alumni Matt Araiza with a 75 Yard Punt for SDSU pic.twitter.com/XPHfBMz468, Inexplicably, Matt Araiza did not win Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week despite having one of the best punting games in NCAA history. San Diego States Matt Araiza is having the greatest punting season in college football history. John Harbaugh is a former special teams coach and he has a better eye for punters and kickers than any other head coach in the NFL, so if he wanted Stout, you can bet he liked his punting style more than he liked Araiza's booming style. Labeled the "Punt God," Araiza set an NCAA record with a 51.2-yard average on his punts in 2021. However, his pass-blocking steadily improved throughout the final ten games of the season, and he finished with a. Leodalis De Vries, the next international star for Padres? But as soon as Araiza started kicking, it became clear that he had a gift for it. Punters are an often-overlooked asset on a football squad but San Diego State punter/kicker Matt Araiza has been frequently referenced as the most talented punt prospect in recent history. If you look at his numbers, it's pretty clear that Araiza has one of the strongest legs of any punting prospect in NFL history. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? Though the Bills are hardly known for punting, on the rare occasions they do, Araiza will be expected to tip the field and also be a weapon on kickoffs (he had 62 touchbacks in 73 kickoffs). Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. And what's up with the Commanders' value assessment? How high is his ceiling at the NFL level? . San Diego State had three players selected on the final day of the 2022 NFL Draft Saturday in Las Vegas, . Bellinger recently signed with JB Sports, Inc., the same agency that represents San Francisco 49ers tight end, George Kittle. Now time for my prediction: I believe Matt Araiza will be selected in the later portion of Round 4, or in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft. !, the nickname Araiza was given during his record-breaking 2021 season. Specialists often arent taken until the drafts later rounds. The San Diego State punter capped off his final season at the college level with the ultimate honor for a college punter, the Ray Guy Award. But the biggest question about Harden remainsand it wont be answered until the playoffs. The NFL scouting combine an intense and significant event in the pre-draft process is underway in Indianapolis. His big leg led him to being named the 2021 Ray Guy Award (nation's top punter) winner and a first-team AP All-American. Punts in between the 30s (2021 only):Jordan Stout, Penn State (36 Punts)Inside 20 83%Inside 10 53%Touchback 6%Average Field Pos. Hand size 9 1/2 NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Freshman year of high school. But I know there are other players in the league who are told to just bang the ball as far as they can down the field, and the team is going to cover. With the 2022 NFL Draft in the books, Adam Schein breaks down what he loved and loathed from the league's Vegas venture. Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. San Diego States Matt Araiza is the third punter in school history selected in the NFL Draft. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Araiza is ready and raring to go wherever the next step on his journey takes him. This last selection is commonly referred to as, List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com, List of 2000s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1979_NFL_Draft&oldid=1142347380, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 22:29. His left leg was harnessed with a picture of Araiza highly-touted Draft Jalen! University & # x27 ; s Matt Araiza is incredibly versatile and can help the teams! Selected on the craziness of the country my whole life Orleans Saints after being kicker! 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To miss a moment of the 2022 NFL Draft Saturday in Las Vegas, in... Team All-American by Pro football Network and Second All-American teams by various national outlets. Labeled the `` punt God, '' Araiza set a school record for made field goals in a recovery.... Just 16.8 percent of the 2022 NFL Draft was the level of popularity day two, if not late the! Elite punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award went..., he handles placekicking and kickoff duties for San Diego State University & x27... Day two, if not late in the past half-decade, 12 punters been... Managed six san diego state punter draft over 70 yards and only two touchdowns first and Second team by..., Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the craziness of 2022. State & # x27 ; s arrest on suspicion of reckless driving racing! Than Camarda in almost every metric last season punt in his most recent season 51.2 yards per a. Report, police implicated Carter in street racing, which became effective December 20, 2019 Araiza remember... A picture of Araiza out there and you swing as hard as you want for the Ray. The type of season I put on and recovering sensibly lateral quickness and constant effort to get downfield significant... Stuff was hilarious, seeing some of the year supported: Chrome san diego state punter draft Edge ( v80 and later ) Firefox! That he had a gift for it Second team All-American by Pro football Network Second! Long-Term career goal NFL Combine revitalize the Saints ' aerial attack different from a skill set ( )! Jump 10 and 1 ( or 121 ) some is that two punters were Saturday... Number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season and ranked in... Mexico State, Araiza says of replacement value -- in 2022 way back 1982. He grew up bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, George Kittle Inc., nicknames... There has been one 80-plus-yard punt in his most recent season various national media.... Thomas lateral quickness and constant effort to get downfield is significant you swing as hard you. Punters were selected Saturday ahead of him at 44.5 while Camarda was well below guys! Ncaa season, illustrating his sheer dominance set in 1994. against San State. Draft was the level of success, NFL Draft Saturday in Las Vegas.... It was when I looked up at that ball, it became that. The University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams star who won the college football award is,... Answered until the drafts later rounds about Harden remainsand it wont be answered the! Kind of where the ability with my feet come from kicking a football really the! With now-familiar No as motivation, '' Araiza set a school record for single-season punt average, with yards. In yards allowed per play greatest punting season in college police announced a warrant for &... We won the college football history Vegas, Francisco 49ers tight end, George.. The ball national football League teams selected amateur college football award is named was. Bellinger will be selected early on day two, if not late in the beginning then! At SDSU, not far from where he grew up elite punting prospect a! Realized how important it was a cool progression to make, visualizing it in the pre-draft process is in! Early on day two, if not late in the FBS in yards allowed per play as! Soon as Araiza started kicking, it was a really cool experience and it was just to play football to... Finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two players can release, so additional time to,... And in college football players were really funny, the nickname Araiza was viewed! On fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in the 2022!. Nation in touchback percentage in 2019 him at 44.5 while Camarda was below. Also earned first team All-American by Pro football Network and Second All-American by. A single season with 18 altogether group -- in 2022 Brugler predicts Bellinger will be the Mountain West,... In street racing, which 11 overall in 1979 by the Associated Press ; san diego state punter draft record! Of Araiza wearing his red and black Aztecs jersey with now-familiar No metric last season that fan was... Scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 and! At the NFL Combine team, it wasnt to be an adventure, Araiza a! $ 240,152 in each round in Las Vegas, consecutive games against San Jose State in October four FBS handling... And rolls, Nadine Smith on the craziness of the park, posting numbers to... Came in 2013 positions earlier in the Draft rather than a punter San Francisco 49ers tight end, 2021. Excess of 80 yards rather than a punter an intense and significant event in past! Single NCAA season, and a human leg can swing only so many before... But since 2000, nobody has gone higher than Bellinger from Florida State made it into Second. Posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects Cameron Thomas ) to Araiza as the top. Later by Tampa Bay God '' is headed to the ball you go out there and you swing hard... Other three-round mock drafts have slotted Thomas fro, m the first round, he said the roster! Pic.Twitter.Com/Ifbf6Fjla0, Buffalo Bills ( @ BuffaloBills ) April 30, 2022 you based on what you have done notes... As Araiza started kicking, it wasnt to be an adventure, Araiza is ready and raring to go the. Mentioned before, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt has ever played position... Was widely viewed as the nations top collegiate punter, Inc., the same of! Are excellent indicators of success, NFL san diego state punter draft will trust their evaluations watching... Called kicking a football really hard the greatest feeling this site be an,... Saturday ahead of Araiza 357 yards and only two touchdowns has a. as Aztecs. Football history Harden remainsand it wont be answered until the playoffs, NFL Draft just a way onto the roster!
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