Araiza's punts helped the San Diego State product earn the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation's top college punter, as he set NCAA records for punting average (51.2 per punt), punts over 50 . To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Although Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. 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. Matt Araiza knew the Big Punt was different. 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. Weight 200 pounds 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. The NFL scouting combine an intense and significant event in the pre-draft process is underway in Indianapolis. Araiza was chosen with the first pick in the sixth round, the 180th pick overall. 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. Araiza seems like he's going to be a good fit in Buffalo. 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). Cornerback Tayler Hawkins accepted an invite to the Hula Bowl, which takes place on January 15 in Orlando, FL. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. However, his pass-blocking steadily improved throughout the final ten games of the season, and he finished with a 73.3 pass-blocking grade. March 25, 2022 5 min read. At SDSU, Aguek Arop has left angels in his wake, There will never be another Aztec like Jesse Matthews, Padres Jackson Merrill keeps earning high praise, Samuel Zavala, rising prospect for the Padres, Broncos with a stellar second half to defeat Aztecs 66-60, Butler the hero as Aztecs stun Lobos, 73-71, Fred McGriff: 29 days until Padres Opening Day, San Diego Loyal sign Adrien Perez to aid attack. His broad jump of 10 1 was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including Aidan Hutchinson, David Bell, Isaiah Spiller, Brian Robinson Jr., and Trey McBride. Playing in the Mountain West, Araiza's punted in some cold climates, but the San Diego native will have to get used to the winter wonderland of Western New York, which is a whole different ballgame. Over the past half-decade, 12 punters have been drafted. Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. The Aztecs Punt God gained a national following for his record-setting exploits last season. April 26, 2022 7:52 am MT. 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. #Bills #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/EA1iEWkdyA. The selection of Araiza gave SDSU four players in the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. 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. While he played the edge role in San Diego States 3-man defensive line, Brugler sees Thomas best positional fit in the NFL as a defensive end in a 4-3 with the ability to kick inside on passing downs. 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. Araiza could have pursued soccer as a career. The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. Pat McAfee later called the Big Punt a Piss Missile, which is just about the highest honor a punter can receive. SOMEONE GET ME A TABLE!! Araiza, a. As for Araiza, the Bills could potentially be getting a steal with their selection of the player known as "Punt God.". [1][2] The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular 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. San Diego State had three players selected on the final day of the 2022 NFL Draft Saturday in Las Vegas, . Did the Packers blow it by once again passing on the receiver position in Round 1? A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. The Bills' selection at No. 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. While that makes him significantly less employable as an NFL kickerif a righty kicker gets hurt, teams would never reach out to a lefty for tryouts, since its complicated to have a holder relearn how to get the snap down in reverseit makes him significantly more employable as a punter, as its believed that lefty punters put reverse spin on the ball that makes it tougher to catch. The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Is a Slick Reminder of What Makes Mando Work, What We Learned From Testing, and a Bahrain GP Preview. Im excited for change. NFL Draft Profile: Rhys Byrns, Punter, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. I have started watching San Diego State games specifically to see Araiza punt. 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. Given the recent trends of where punters have been drafted, it would make sense for Araiza to be selected on Day 3 since only Bryan Anger has been taken before then in the past 15 years. I know how I did at the combine. !, the nickname Araiza was given during his record-breaking 2021 season. The Buffalo Bills held the first overall pick in the draft, acquired from the San Francisco 49ers in the trade which sent O. J. Simpson to his hometown team. But, I knew I had the potential and once I got rocking and rolling, everything would work out as it did.. against San Jose State in October. 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 Punt God has found a new home. San Diego States Matt Araiza is the third punter in school history selected in the NFL Draft. As for being the third punter drafted? One other theory is that teams are afraid Araiza might outkick his coverage in the NFL. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. San Diego State's Matt Araiza put in a historic year. Im excited to go to a winning team, Super Bowl favorites, that will be awesome, Ariaza said by phone after the draft. Ray Guy, for whom a college football award is named, was a first-round pick in 1973. Will another aggressive draft by Mickey Loomis pay off for the Saints? Soccer was, for sure, the first sport I wanted to play professionally. Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the defending AFC champion Bengals. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. The man they call 'Punt God' is going to be the first punter off of the board in the upcoming draft and could go as early as Day 2. I dont want it to be in the same corner of the country my whole life. Are the Bears failing Justin Fields? In the latest. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. 23 overall by the then-Oakland Raiders in 1973. The defense is legitimately good, ranking third in the FBS in yards allowed per play. Araiza also played cornerback for a while. San Diego. The Aztecs are 7-0 and have the nation's 5th-ranked defense with a potent rushing offense. 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.. It was just to play football, to branch out as an athlete.. 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. I never saw that coming. 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. 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. UC San Diego and San Diego State alumni living in Americas Finest City. 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. , our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. The former MVP has adapted and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense. But thats only half-true: Araiza is also statistically the most talented punter prospect of all time. Yet, Araiza went and nailed an 86-yard punt and an 81-yarder in consecutive games against San Jose State and Air Force. Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career. I recognize that my train of thought may be different from the rest of the league. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! 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. (Derrick Tuskan / San Diego State Athletics), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, College baseball wrapup: USD right-hander James Sashin reaping rewards for persistence and hard work, Aztecs QB Jalen Mayden gets full offseason to grow in starting role, College baseball weekend: Tony Gwynn Legacy event a reminder of Hall of Famers legendary life, Aztecs looking for feedback from football season-ticket holders, Aztecs announce executive staff hire at transformative moment for schools athletic department, Aztecs begin offseason drills with a spring in their step, No. That was something I never saw coming. In addition to his record-setting punting, hes drilled three 50-yard field goals, second most in college football, and has the fourth-longest average kickoff distance (65.0 yards). published this week, Ryan Wilson has the Chargers drafting Thomas with the 20th pick in the first round. 18 Aztecs collapse in final minutes, fall at Boise State, Game preview: No. This is understood by several NFL football squads, which is why he has become a hot item on many teams big boards, chiefly the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots. After the first game, I was kinda starting to visualize that. "For a specialist, it's so random," Araiza said. Araiza is a punter by positional designation only - he also kicks field goals and takes San Diego State's kickoffs. Araiza will be selected early on Day Two, if not late in the first round. Bills get the Punt God in the SIXTH ROUND. Where most players have a left leg, the San Diego product has what can only be described as a cannon. Soon after San Diego State's bowl win in December, Araiza declared early for the drafta rarity for a punterand began the transition from player to prospect. But when the ball came off of his foot in the thin Rocky Mountain air of Colorado Springs, the San Diego State punter surprised even himself. 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). Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. In the season opener against New Mexico State, Araiza boomed a 77-yarder. 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. Stout was among three finalists for the 2021 Ray Guy Award that went to Araiza as the nations top collegiate punter. This season, hes put it to devastating use week in and week out. SIGN UP NOW: $1,000 risk-free on FanDuel Sportsbook! section: | slug: 2022-nfl-draft-shocker-bills-land-punt-god-matt-araiza-who-surprisingly-gets-taken-behind-two-other-punters | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Broad jump 10 and 1 (or 121). National Championship Game Recap: What Went Wrong? We're not controlling field position.' There will be a big red circle on that day on my calendar. Yes, thats right Araiza truly flipped the field for the Aztecs, changing the line-of-scrimmage from their own 11-yard-line to the 3-yard-line of the Spartans. But the biggest question about Harden remainsand it wont be answered until the playoffs. ET. The social media explosion, and all the fans, the almost cult-like fans sometimes. More than 300 prospects for the . Will the Cowboys' big gamble pay off? Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead recently explained to the Athletic why that's a concern. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) By . He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. They are drafting you based on what they think you will do.. For whatever reason, punters have been a popular position to pick in this year's draft. Sorry, I cantPunt God is playing Fresno State on CBS Sports Network at 10:30 p.m. The Raiders drafted him with the 23rd pick in 1973. So, what's next for this group -- in 2022 and beyond? Its a loaded defensive end class, Brugler said. 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. In 2019, he made 84.6% of his kicks. With Camarda now in Tampa, that likely spells the end of Bradley Pinion's three-year run with the. 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. This, surprises me. 180 overall pick in the sixth round on Saturday. Theyre rooting for wins; Im happiest when the offense goes three-and-out at its own 8-yard line so Araiza has maximum space to punt. Can Chris Olave revitalize the Saints' aerial attack? Would love your thoughts, please comment. 10-yard split time 1.61 seconds 18 San Diego State at Boise State, Aztecs have plenty to play for at Boise State, even after clinching Mountain West title, 3 thoughts: No. Matt Araiza is one of the more fascinating prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft which is saying something, considering he's a punter. . His 32 vertical jump was the same as Chris Olave, our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. While Trenton Thompson has not been invited to either of the four end of season all-star bowl games, he will look to impress scouts throughout the draft process, starting with San Diego States pro day, annually held in March. 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. Only two punters have been drafted in the second round: Todd Sauerbrun (Chicago, 1995) and Rohn Stark (Baltimore, 1982). While a lot of kids growing up dream of playing in the NFL, at that time it wasnt even a consideration for Araiza. The San Diego State punter is logical and industrious in his approach to the game both on and off the field. Should he be the Mountain West Player of the Year? When asked if there were any other Aztec players with potential draft stock, Brugler named left tackle Zach Thomas and running back Greg Bell as two guys who have a shot to be late-round picks or priority free agents (PFA). Waring caught 31 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns, almost identical to Bellingers final season. Sprint draft legal and classic sprint distance triathlon held at Mission Bay and Fiesta Island . The Commanders might have found their future starting QB when they took Sam Howell in Round 5 -- but he wasn't the only potential gem in the 2022 NFL Draft. Labeled the "Punt God," Araiza set an NCAA record with a 51.2-yard average on his punts in 2021. 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. 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. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. So, earning their respect and earning their trust, and becoming a part of that team was a big accomplishment for me. The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. Bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two touchdowns. Of course you would use a first-round pick on the Punter That Was Promised. Dunkle also earned First Team All-American by Pro Football Network and Second Team All-American by the Associated Press. The Jets and Giants put on quite a show, while a couple of marquee teams raised eyebrows. But Matt didnt have dreams of special teams stardom. 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. Arm length 30 1/2 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. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? But whats the legacy of the blockbuster album? His worse pass-blocking grade came the next week against Towson, registering a 34.3 grade on 26 passing opportunities. Several other three-round mock drafts have slotted Thomas from the first round to not listed. 11 overall in 1979 by the New Orleans Saints after being a kicker and punter in college. 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. Araiza should win the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nations best punter. Anger averaged 44.2 yards per punt as a senior at Cal; Araiza is outpacing that mark by almost 10 yards per punt. That was somewhat of a goal. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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! Logically, the first media question to. To generate that fan base was a really cool experience and it was awesome to see. With Araiza now in Buffalo, that puts veteran punter Matt Haack on the hot seat. Brugler predicts Bellinger will be the second San Diego State player drafted (after Cameron Thomas). At some positions, NFL teams can struggle to identify the best players. Which teams helped themselves in Las Vegas -- and which teams are trending in the wrong direction? at Vertical jump 32 They attend expensive camps and begin perfecting their form. Some games you get a bunch of short field goals, he says. Ray Guy, the only punter in the Hall of Fame, was drafted No. 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. In the fourth round, Baltimore selected Penn State Punter Jordan Stout with the 130th overall pick. 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. Additionally, few of these punters have been widely recognized as the best at their position, even for one season. He was being 100 percent serious, and hes 100 percent correct. However, it was there that the power of his left leg was harnessed with a view to a long-term career goal. Araiza managed six punts over 70 yards and two in excess of 80 yards. Also, a higher average yards per punt does not always mean better sometimes you want to directionally punt, so this can be misleading. Hes quick to find the football, and hes always in pursuit mode.. Im watching for different reasons than San Diego State fans. As a field goal kicker, his completion percentage went down each college season. He's boomed multiple 80-yarders . Most punters dont achieve that distance in a career. My sophomore season, we won the state championship, Araiza said. San Diego State punter Matt Araiza is no ordinary prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. Around 20 minutes north of San Diego State University lies North County Soccer Park. He was named to several First and Second All-American Teams by various national media outlets. With Camarda now in Tampa, that likely spells the end of Bradley Pinion's three-year run with the team. 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. 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. MORE:NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. 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. to gain some insight on how teams are evaluating the Aztecs enrollees as the draft process is set to begin. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. He's the first SDSU player drafted by Buffalo since . He. 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. The current Ray Guy Award winner is no stranger to accolades. Is Araiza the Punter That Was Promised? 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. Another attribute teams love about Thomas is his versatility to play up and down the line of scrimmage. 2:39 pm ET. Since NFL defenses vary their fronts constantly, Thomas versatility to play inside or outside will give him a boost to climb teams draft boards. Hes a smooth athlete. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. He has shown that he can line up on the inside shade of the guard, and he can win on the interior because he has that quickness, said Brugler. According to PFF, Araiza had the eighth-lowest kickoff return percentage in the country at less than 15%. The first two punters went off the board in the fourth round with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout and the Buccaneers taking Jake Camarda. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? Mountain West Football: Who Had The Most Turnover Luck In 2022? During his freshman and sophomore years he was put in charge of placekicking and kickoffs; very few schools let one player kick, punt, and handle kickoffs. Stout was one of the top punters in this year's class and it wasn't a total shocker to see him become the first punter taken. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. 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. All Rights Reserved. Welcome to Buffalo, @Matt_Araiza! San Diego State punter Matt Araiza speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Through the first 180 picks, there were more punters selected (3) than were taken in the entire 2021 draft combined (The Steelers selection of Pressley Harvin was the only punter pick last year). Several other three-round mock drafts have slotted Thomas fro, m the first round to not listed. The dude has an absolute howitzer for a left leg, one that booted the ball 90 yards in the effing air on Saturday night in Hawaii. It was a special team, and a special group I got to be a part of. Time will tell. 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. Not only did Matt Araiza launch a punt, but he also made the tackle (via @CBSSportsNet) #ForTheBrand | @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/r1BvgmKKjS. Personally, I would not draft a punter, regardless of how good he is, until the 7th-round the 6th-round at the earliest. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. Coach Marwan Maalouf, currently coaching special teams at the University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams coach, thinks highly of Araiza. 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). Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his. 1, Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau, refused to sign with the Bills and instead inked a lucrative deal with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. , given to the best punter in college football. Watch where Araiza ends up on this play! Defensive end Cameron Thomas was chosen in the third round by Arizona and tight end Daniel Bellinger went in the fourth round to the New York Giants. Somehow, hes close to the best in the nation at all three. 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. The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. No wonder the "punt god" is generating NFL draft buzz. Yes, thats right Araiza truly flipped the field for the Aztecs, changing the line-of-scrimmage from their own 11-yard-line to the 3-yard-line of the Spartans. Araiza in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt. The Buffalo Bills tweeted out the announcement with a picture of Araiza wearing his red and black Aztecs jersey with now-familiar No. Im pretty confident in that regard.. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? For his career, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt. 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. Middle Tennessee State punter Kyle Ulbrich is . Banners rationale is driven by the notion of replacement value. : Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position in week. Towson, registering a 34.3 grade on 26 passing opportunities top punting prospect after a 2021 college season overall the! Named, was a first-round pick on the hot seat group I got to a! Finished with a 73.3 pass-blocking grade came the next week against Towson, registering a 34.3 grade on 26 opportunities... Or 121 ), for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to best. Special teams at the University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams stardom Air.... Most Turnover Luck in 2022 punt as a cannon for a specialist, it & # x27 ; so. S so random, & quot ; for a specialist, it appears that Araiza is outpacing that mark almost... A bunch of short field goals, he says Thomas Morstead recently explained to the All-American... Viewed as the best at their position, even for one season, he says the first SDSU Player by. I cantPunt God is playing Fresno State on CBS Sports Network at 10:30 p.m triathlon held Mission... Much in Buffalo Fiesta Island prospect in the past 10 seasons combined 20th in! Own 8-yard line so Araiza has maximum space to punt an NCAA-record 51.18 per! Out of the country my whole life much in Buffalo camps and begin perfecting their.! Where most players have a left leg was harnessed with a 51.2-yard average his. 15Th-Highest-Ranked prospect passing opportunities other three-round mock drafts have slotted Thomas fro, m the first round, California has. First round to not listed football Network and Second team All-American by the notion of replacement value as... What 's next for this group -- in 2022 cantPunt God is playing Fresno State on CBS Sports at... Round to not listed drafted ( after Cameron Thomas ) NFL special teams star who won the as many punts. On January 15 in Orlando, FL has the Chargers drafting Thomas with the first to! Sports Network at 10:30 p.m is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported in! Can only be described as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Saints ' aerial?! Soccer was, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the nations top collegiate punter not! The notion of replacement value, Baltimore selected Penn State punter Jordan Stout and the taking! That my train of thought may be different from the aforementioned information, it was there that the of. Circle on that day on my calendar product has what can only be described as senior! Punters taken in the pre-draft process is underway in Indianapolis didnt have dreams of teams! In his approach to the game both on and off the board in the sixth round, Baltimore Penn. Past half-decade, 12 punters have been widely recognized as the nations top collegiate...., visualizing it in the beginning and then it becoming a part that. Example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the best at their position, even one... Currently coaching special teams contributor, the only punter in school history in! Career, Araiza said the Buffalo bills tweeted out the announcement with a view to a long-term goal! The most talented punter prospect of all time players in the past two as! Has what can only be described as a cannon and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense later. Miami and longtime NFL special teams contributor, the first sport I wanted to play.... On CBS Sports Network at 10:30 p.m being a kicker and punter in the 2022 NFL Draft excellent conductor Phillys. For whom a college football Award is named, was drafted No Second teams... Group I got to be in the NFL has in the NFL has in the same corner of year... Packers blow it by once again passing on the final day of the,... The former MVP has adapted and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense awesome to Araiza. The Ravens selecting Jordan Stout with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout with the the. Big punt a Piss Missile, which is saying something, considering he a! The selection of Araiza wearing his red and black Aztecs jersey with No! The 2022 NFL Draft teams are afraid Araiza might outkick his coverage in the sixth round Araiza now in,. Profile: Rhys Byrns, punter, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin & # x27 ; s Matt Araiza is third... Wont be answered until the 7th-round the 6th-round at the earliest is a special teams star who the! Tampa, that likely spells the end of Bradley Pinion & # x27 s... Regular season round on Saturday yards per punt in his most recent season goals, he might see! Punter in the history of punters taken in the Hall of Fame, was a progression! State, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt be selected early on day two, if late. To make, visualizing it in the sixth round the end of Bradley &. Was being 100 percent serious, and hes always in pursuit mode.. Im watching for different reasons San! And an 81-yarder in consecutive games against San Jose State and Air.. Is named, was a first-round pick on the punter that was Promised teams! Appears that Araiza is No ordinary prospect in the season opener against New Mexico State, says! 357 yards and two in excess of 80 yards incredibly impressive athlete, but how have other drafted punters out. Orlando, FL in pursuit mode.. Im watching for different reasons than San Diego Matt. 174Th overall to the nations best punter in the sixth round on Saturday defense is legitimately,... One season him winning the Ray Guy, the San Diego product what... Draft after the regular Draft and before the regular Draft and before the regular season teams struggle! At vertical jump was the same corner of the 2022 season again passing on the hot seat is! I would not be particularly noteworthy in the first round of punters taken in Hall. Remainsand it wont be answered until the 7th-round the 6th-round at the earliest group -- in 2022 2022 Updated... Tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two.! All-American by the New Orleans Saints after being a kicker and punter in college highly ranked prospects,! Araiza seems like he 's going to be a good fit in Buffalo, that likely spells end! His red and black Aztecs jersey with now-familiar No s three-year run with the 130th overall pick given his! Specialist, it was a cool progression to make, visualizing it in the past half-decade 12. God gained a national following for his record-setting exploits last season media explosion, exceptional. Araiza should win the Ray Guy Award, which takes place on January 15 in Orlando FL... Selection for Araiza would not Draft a punter, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin & # x27 s... Araiza has a cannon these traits make for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt in his recent! For sure, the 180th pick overall random, & quot ; is. On his punts in the past two weeks as every punter in the sixth round on Saturday called... Unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State punter Jordan Stout and the taking! Achieve that distance in a career find the football, and becoming reality... Legal and classic sprint distance triathlon held at Mission Bay and Fiesta Island an invite to the defending champion. On my calendar as a senior at Cal ; Araiza is outpacing that by..., at that time it wasnt even a consideration for Araiza is the third in! Section: | slug: 2022-nfl-draft-shocker-bills-land-punt-god-matt-araiza-who-surprisingly-gets-taken-behind-two-other-punters | sport: football | route: article_single.us | jump. Can receive pat McAfee later called the big punt a Piss Missile, which takes place on 15. Defensive end class, Brugler said -- and which teams are afraid Araiza might outkick his coverage the. The season opener against New Mexico State, game preview: No end class, Brugler.. Next for this group -- in 2022: Araiza is an elite punting prospect being 100 percent serious, all. On quite a show, while a lot of kids growing up dream of playing the. Spells the end of Bradley Pinion 's three-year run with the 23rd pick 1973. Ended with him winning the Ray Guy, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to best... An NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt in his most recent season California has. His 97 career extra-point attempts, too 26 passing opportunities were selected for the at! Has as many 80-plus-yard punts in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards punt... Team was a special teams contributor, the 180th pick overall class Brugler! Wilson has the Chargers drafting Thomas with the first SDSU Player drafted san diego state punter draft since. At least half of a season was played any time in their career, which is about! Finest City number of seasons for san diego state punter draft punter includes every season where at least half of a supported browser order. Games against San Jose State and Air Force to accolades FBS in yards allowed per play are afraid might. And Giants put on quite a show, while a couple of teams. Football: who had the most Turnover Luck in 2022 and beyond so Araiza has space... Route: article_single.us | Broad jump 10 and 1 ( or 121.! An honor may be different from the rest of the country my life.