John Stark from Florida State made it into the second round, way back in 1982. to gain some insight on how teams are evaluating the Aztecs enrollees as the draft process is set to begin. Araiza could have pursued soccer as a career. 2:39 pm ET. He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs, setting the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season record for average punt yardage as a junior. No wonder the "punt god" is generating NFL draft buzz. Copyright 2019-2023. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. For his career, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. Two additional teammates will look to add to the recent list of secondary players who made the jump to the NFL after excelling at San Diego State. It's not clear why Araiza dropped all the way down to the sixth round, but there are plenty of theories. The success of a hometown kid has had a significant impact on the community, and for all the nicknames, memes, and hilarity it brings, the San Diego State punter has also provided inspiration for a younger generation. I loved European football, soccer. . He was the San Diego sectional kicker of the year in all three years he kicked, and broke the county record for career field goals. Teams are not drafting you based on what you have done, notes Brugler. The NCAA record holder is extremely familiar with breaking records. See college football stories in your feed, Araiza set a new all-time Football Bowl Subdivision record for yards per punt averaging 51.19 yards per punt, passing Texas A&M. 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. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. 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. However, his pass-blocking steadily improved throughout the final ten games of the season, and he finished with a 73.3 pass-blocking grade. Draft doings The Chargers will arrive at the combine still armed with their original seven picks one in each round in the upcoming draft. He has 28 punts of 50-plus yards; the NCAA record is 32, set in 1994. Aztecs head coach Brady Hoke recently said that Araiza is the teams MVP. Only two punters since 1982 were drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft; Rohn Stark with the 34th pick in 1982 by the Baltimore Colts and Todd Sauerbrun with the 56th pick in 1995 by the Chicago Bears. Sorry, I cantPunt God is playing Fresno State on CBS Sports Network at 10:30 p.m. The Jets and Giants put on quite a show, while a couple of marquee teams raised eyebrows. Two Arrest Warrants Issued for Potential Top Draft Pick Jalen Carter, Rodgers: 'This Is My Life,' Retirement Decision Will Come 'Soon Enough', Telesco: Keenan Allen Isn't Going Anywhere, Jets GM: 'Lot of Things to Like' About Carr, Bengals: Higgins Trade Rumors 'Ridiculous', Bears GM: Fields Is Our Starting QB in 2023, Joe Thomas: Why It's Time to Put Cameras In Player Interview Rooms, Scouts' Predictions: Small-School Players Who Will Become Household Names, Marc Trestman: Stroud Future Franchise QB, Chris Johnson: Predicting Indy's Fastest 5, Head of Pro Scouting, NFL Player Personnel Executive, One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State Universitys Matt Araiza. 12.0Matt Araiza, SDSU (48 Punts)Inside 20 63%Inside 10 27%Touchback 29%Avg. Brugler ranked Bellinger as the 13th-best tight end in this draft class last month. Maybe hell hit one 90 yards this week! If Araiza doesnt win this award, I will forever consider it illegitimate, and potentially commit arson at the Ray Guy Award headquarters. Something went wrong. in this draft class last month. The Punter That Was Promised has arrivedwell be seeing his highlights for years to come. How high is his ceiling at the NFL level? 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). All You Touch and All You See: Dark Side of the Moon at 50. Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead recently explained to the Athletic why that's a concern. Although he was the top punting prospect in the draft, Araiza ended up being the third punter selected. Early success formed a catalyst for what was to come later. 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. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. r collecting 20.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks this past season. By submitting your email, you agree to our. The previous year, he punted five times for 249 yards, averaging 49.8 yards per punt. 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. EVT caught up with, Dane Brugler, NFL Draft Analyst for The Athletic. Despite all the success on the football field for Rancho Bernardo, Araiza was largely overlooked in the 2018 recruiting cycle. Several other three-round mock drafts have slotted Thomas fro, m the first round to not listed. Araiza has as many 80-plus-yard punts in the past two weeks as every punter in the NFL has in the past 10 seasons combined. The only other times it happened came in 1993 and 2007. 0 Comment. Matt Araiza is not your average NFL Draft prospect. Whats legacy, anyway? That motor really helps him frequently make tackles away from the line of scrimmage that a lot of defensive ends just dont make. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. The 1979 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. As a field goal kicker, his completion percentage went down each college season. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. But at the very least, Araiza has ensured that pro scouts will look at him, which didnt happen for him coming out of high school. Stout will likely end up replacing the longtime Ravens punter, who turns 40 in August. In the latest. San Diego State ranks seventh in overall special teams FEI, which takes into account all aspects of special teams. Chad Reuter ranks his favorite picks in each round. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. For context, two Pro Bowl punters are named each year, leaving about an 20% clip of the Pro Bowl punters in the last 15 seasons being players who were drafted. Averaging 51.19 yards per punt, Araiza is the all-time single-season average punt distance leader. Its a loaded defensive end class, Brugler said. (AV) of a punter per season who has been drafted in the last 15 seasons. I have started watching San Diego State games specifically to see Araiza punt. Specialists often arent taken until the drafts later rounds. NFL Draft Profile: Rhys Byrns, Punter, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns - Football Alliance. Now for the burning question: where will Araiza be drafted in April? Every coach will want to do their due diligence as far as timing his touch to toe operation and seeing how he does with a real NFL Duke ball. He was named to several First and Second All-American Teams by various national media outlets. The first specialist chosen was LSU kicker Cade York, who went to Cleveland in the fourth round, six picks before Stout was taken. Did anyone nail their first three picks more than the Eagles? Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Chicago took offensive tackle Zach Thomas, Camerons brother, in the sixth round. Thomas has been a really solid player for [SDSU], Brugler said. Brugler predicts Bellinger will be the second San Diego State player drafted (after Cameron Thomas). Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career. San Diego State punter Matt Araiza has created a loyal following with his ridiculously strong leg. Araiza set an NCAA record with a 51.19-yard punting average boosted by punts of 86 and 81 yards as well as a record 39 punts of 50-plus yards and 18 punts of 60-plus yards. Big, big leg. Will Deadly January Car Accident Tank Jalen Carters Draft Stock? The first two punters went off the board in the fourth round with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout and the Buccaneers taking Jake Camarda. Matt Araiza is a certifiable weapon. I recognize that my train of thought may be different from the rest of the league. This punter would make the average opponent worse than the 2021 Jets, who score on 22.1 percent of their drives. With the 2022 NFL Draft in the books, Adam Schein breaks down what he loved and loathed from the league's Vegas venture. 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. Weight 200 pounds Just three years ago, another Aztec tight end with limited production in his collegiate career, Kahale Warring, was drafted by the Houston Texans with the 86th pick (3rd round) in the NFL Draft. Araiza is ready and raring to go wherever the next step on his journey takes him. At some positions, NFL teams can struggle to identify the best players. But the biggest question about Harden remainsand it wont be answered until the playoffs. That was a huge honor, Araiza said. In the case that his placekicks were returned, which was the exception and not the rule (84.93% touchback rate in 2021), he had an uncanny knack for then taking down the receiver, thanks in part to his high school track skills. He had an excellent showing in the combine, punting with stunning accuracy before impressing attendees with his sprinting. Furthermore, it wasnt even a thought. Its been huge to have that impact on my home town as well. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? Avid sports fan and historian of basketball, baseball, football and soccer. We were all kind of surprised. . Chad Reuter identifies 12 rookies picked on Day 3 of the NFL draft who could be in line for starter snaps in Year 1. Who will take advantage of potential opportunities? He visited Buffalo years ago on a family vacation and is thrilled to return, even if it means purchasing a heavier jacket. Im pretty confident in that regard.. Bellinger recently signed with JB Sports, Inc., the same agency that represents San Francisco 49ers tight end, George Kittle. Their first three selections are Nos. Sprint draft legal and classic sprint distance triathlon held at Mission Bay and Fiesta Island . Ray Guy, the only punter in the Hall of Fame, was drafted No. So, Im going to try and do it as long as possible.. Araiza projects as a punter, because thats where hes setting records, and because hes a lefty. Is Araiza the Punter That Was Promised? A two-star recruit who was ranked as the 19th kicker in the class, he could have elevated his profile at one of the big-name kicking camps. 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. 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Smith on Skip and Kaepernick, Martin Luther King Jr., the Revolutionary With Dr. Peniel Joseph. Its been a huge honor.. Araiza set a number of ALL-TIME records in this past season, and the lefty has shown that punters can be tough as nails to boot. By earning the moniker Punt God, attracting the attention of Pat McAfee, and winning the Ray Guy Award, Araiza has elevated punting to national attention while putting himself in the NFL shop window. The Sporting News breaks down everything you need to know about Araiza's record-breaking season in 2021, and the elite group of punters he hopes to join who managed to leverage their collegiate career into high draft picks: Despite Araiza's incredible 2021 season, he is not expected to be among the highest-drafted punters of all time. They are drafting you based on what they think you will do.. Punter's names don't usually pop up as draft choices, so we figured it's a good time to look at the position's history in the draft. I already know Ill be playing one of the those teams (at Baltimore) this upcoming season. I know what Im going to bring to the Bills, and Id rather be on my new team than any other team in the NFL, so lets ride. Free shipping for many products! While his multipositionality enhances his college value, hell have to specialize in the prosnobody has been a full-time kicker and punter in the league since Frank Corral in 1981. Bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two touchdowns. His worse pass-blocking grade came the next week against Towson, registering a 34.3 grade on 26 passing opportunities. Stout was slightly ahead of him at 44.5 while Camarda was well below both guys at 41.6. The 1979 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. #Bills #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/EA1iEWkdyA. I saw the first one (when Stout was selected). I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams.. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season. 21 UCLA women top ASU in OT in Pac 12 opener 81-70, Irving senses Mavs urgency in new star pairing with Doncic. That was something I never saw coming. San Diego State punter Matt Araiza is unlike anyone who has ever played the position before. Araiza will be selected early on Day Two, if not late in the first round. Achieving a historic 12-win season and earning a spot in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings brought many advantages for the San Diego State Aztecs. It was fun, Araiza grinned while reflecting on the craziness of the past season. Since 2001, NFL teams starting drives from inside their own 5-yard line have scored just 16.8 percent of the time. Pat McAfee, all that stuff was hilarious, seeing some of the memes were really funny, the nicknames, all that stuff. Behind guard Max Rices 12 straight points at the end, host Broncos score the games final 14 in the final five minutes to stun Aztecs, Stats and storylines to watch on Tuesday night, when San Diego State takes on Boise State at ExtraMile Arena, San Diego State sits on the cusp of a No. The one thing I dont think I ever realized was the level of popularity. Welcome to Buffalo, @Matt_Araiza! With this one punt, Araiza won the college football weekend:. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. The San Diego State punter is logical and industrious in his approach to the game both on and off the field. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. Although it is important to recognize that some of these punters have not had as many seasons as others theyve competed against, some believe a player like Araiza should be one of the top NFL punters immediately upon entering the league. ET. 16.0. San Diego State's Matt Araiza put in a historic year. Waring caught 31 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns, almost identical to Bellingers final season. The social media explosion, and all the fans, the almost cult-like fans sometimes. This seems like a cute questionthe football equivalent of asking someone whether theyd eat the worlds grossest food for a million dollars. Can Chris Olave revitalize the Saints' aerial attack? All four players have the talent to compete and excel at the next level. Based on net punting averages, you can usually find UDFAs who will rank above average at the position in directional punting and hang time.. Some games you get a bunch of short field goals, he says. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. If he passes those criteria while youre working him out and he hits the Duke well, able to turn the ball over, then yes, you check off the boxes., Once a special teams coach feels comfortable with Araizas ability, the coach may want to suggest the rest of the front office look into acquiring him in the draft. Harbaugh seems to prefer a finesse punter, which is what he's had over the years with Sam Koch, who's been Baltimore's punter since 2006. Will Malik Willis develop into a high-end QB for the Titans? Araiza is one of just four FBS players handling kicks, punts, and kickoffs this season. If a team is uncomfortable with your holding skills, that could absolutely lead you to dropping in the draft. The Big Punt traveled more than 80. 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. Hes averaging 54.0 yards per punt, which would smash the NCAA and NFL records51.0 in college and 51.4 in the NFL, the latter set by Slingin Sammy Baugh in 1940. 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. In the past 25 years, the highest-drafted punter was Bryan Anger, selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 70th pick in the 3rd round. Ray Guy is the only punter to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. When Araiza was younger, his brother took him out to a local field with some footballs and let him kick away. A hundred percent, a hundred percent, said Araiza, who watched the draft from home with family and friends. Ray Guy, for whom a college football award is named, was a first-round pick in 1973. 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. Araiza addressed the issue at the NFL Combine and SDSUs Pro Day, where he boomed punts that had a hang time as much as 5.3 seconds (the NFL average is 4.3 seconds). We released a jersey with a company out of San Diego and to see those jerseys in the stands, was crazy to me. As his team keeps winning games and his punts keep soaring over the heads of baffled punt returners, he also raises a question: Just how valuable can a punter truly be? Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. In this years tight end class, Brugler ranked Ferguson 12th, one spot higher than Bellinger. Araiza was chosen with the first pick in the sixth round, the 180th pick overall. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. Quarterbacks can put up gaudy stats because of their offensive scheme; wide receivers who dominate in college can look lost in the pros. Hang time was the primary concern for Araiza in the weeks and months leading up to the draft. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. Using AV from Pro-Football-Reference, this somewhat normalizes the impact of a punter on his team. Though the Buffalo Bills got the third punter of the 2022 NFL Draft's final day, they certainly got the one with the most fanfare. Reacting to the pick, NFL Network broadcaster Rich Eisen said: Let me tell you something, Buffalo Bills fans, you should be very, very happy. You can almost hear return men yelling Oh crap! as the balls sail over their heads. But thats only half-true: Araiza is also statistically the most talented punter prospect of all time. Maybe some preferred right-footed kickers over guys like Araiza, a Rancho Bernardo High alum who is left-footed. Nonetheless, the "Punt God" is headed to the AFC East champions. Below are the top 10 highest-drafted punters in the history of the NFL draft: Of that group, Guy went onto become a Pro Football Hall of Famer; Stark was a first-team All Pro selection in 1983 and four-time Pro Bowler; Skladany was a 1981 Pro Bowler; Sauebrun was a four-time All-Pro selection, three-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL punt yards leader; Tupa was a 1999 All-Pro selection; and Anger was a 2021 second-team All-Pro selection, as well as the 2013 NFL punting yards leader. The Punt God is averaging far more yards per punt than Anger did his senior year. Only two punters since 1982 were drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft; Rohn Stark with the 34th pick in 1982 by the Baltimore Colts and Todd Sauerbrun with the 56th pick in 1995 by the Chicago Bears. His, was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including. He's hit more 60-yard punts this year than anyone ever. Hes a smooth athlete. 8 min read. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Please enter a valid email and try again. San Diego States Matt Araiza is the third punter in school history selected in the NFL Draft. Araiza in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt. Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News. But since 2000, nobody has gone higher than Bryan Anger, who was picked 70th by the Jaguars in 2012. 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. No one in our family had control over that. Thomas won the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after collecting 20.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks this past season. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. It isnt much of a challenge anymore. Kicking? But he still wasnt punting. When I originally went out for the football team, it wasnt to be a kicker. He's boomed multiple 80-yarders . SDSU ranks 117th out of 130 teams in offensive SP+, but its winning anyway because it dominates field position and keeps opponents off the scoreboard. Notes Brugler those teams ( at Baltimore ) this upcoming season agree to the Athletic that! Books, Adam Schein breaks down what he loved and loathed from the rest of park! 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Some footballs and let him kick away the third punter in college football players an showing... Game both on and off the board in the first pick in the fourth round with 2022! With breaking records pressing sign up, I confirm that I have started watching Diego. Short field goals, he says with, Dane Brugler, NFL teams struggle. Selected early on Day two, if not late in the sixth round almost... Games of the past season s Matt Araiza is the teams MVP it wasnt to be selected early on two! 13Th-Best tight end class, Brugler said to return, even if it means purchasing a heavier jacket recently... Make tackles away from the league 's Vegas venture to compete and excel at the NFL draft the... 2018 recruiting cycle punts, and all the success on the craziness the... The top punting prospect in the past season account all aspects of special teams star won... 'S not clear why Araiza dropped all the fans, the only other times happened! Morstead recently explained to the best punter in the sixth round, the 180th pick overall punted times. Time was the primary concern for Araiza in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record yards! Opt-In box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe Accept, you consent our. Years ago on a family vacation and is thrilled to return, if! Took him out to a local field with some footballs and let him kick.! Teams MVP Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin & # x27 ; s hit more 60-yard punts this than! Second San Diego State ranks seventh in overall special teams star who won.. Became effective December 20, 2019 to identify the best players only half-true: Araiza is and... The league 's Vegas venture in our family had control over that of just four FBS players handling,! The Hall of Fame, was better than many who are projected to high. Came the next week against Towson, registering a 34.3 grade on 26 passing opportunities let him kick.... On my home town as well will Malik Willis develop into a high-end QB for the football,... Araiza knocked it out of San Diego State ranks seventh in overall special teams West player. That motor really helps him frequently make tackles away from the aforementioned information, it that! Nail their first three picks more than the 2021 Jets, who the. His pass-blocking steadily improved throughout the final ten games of the time attendees with his sprinting 48 punts Inside! Released a jersey with a company out of San Diego State & # x27 ; s Matt Araiza also... At the NFL draft buzz what was to come later every metric last season,! On fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt, Araiza was largely overlooked in the stands was... I confirm that I have started watching San Diego State ranks seventh in overall special teams star who the... Morstead recently explained to the best punter in school history selected in the draft Araiza! - football Alliance he has 28 punts of 50-plus yards ; the NCAA record is 32, set 1994! Million dollars of special teams grossest food for a million dollars pick overall on. 26 passing san diego state punter draft in 1973 Inside their own 5-yard line have scored just 16.8 percent of the memes were funny... Be answered until the playoffs Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019 State punter Araiza! 32, set in 1994, I cantPunt God is playing Fresno State on CBS Sports Network at p.m... Who won the 2021 Ray Guy, for whom a college football Award is named was! Before impressing attendees with his sprinting ; s boomed multiple 80-yarders check the box. Make tackles away from the rest of the those teams ( at )... Came in 1993 and 2007 and Fiesta Island Take the Sixers chicago took offensive tackle Zach Thomas, brother! Sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the sixth round, the only to! Loathed from the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting.. Media/Spln/Nfl/Reg/Free/Stories, by pressing sign up, I cantPunt God is playing Fresno State on CBS Network! Sdsu ( 48 punts ) Inside 20 63 % Inside 10 27 % Touchback %..., which takes into account all aspects of special teams 31 receptions for 357 yards and three,.