The Aztec junior is an offensive weapon that frequently puts his defense in favorable spots. No other player this season has two 80+ yard punts. 201. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. Use our promo code VENDETTA or use the link below to get a 100% instant matchon any deposit. But, thats not all Araiza can do. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. You dont get the award that celebrates collegiate punting excellence without being exceptional. As Araiza prepares to break positional norms in the 2022 NFL Draft class, his prolific performances as a punter can be traced back to his roots at Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego. They call him Punt God. 1 CB, Paul Burmeister: Why Derek Carr Might Not Be QB to Win You a Championship, Tracker: Patriots Release QB Hoyer. Furthermore, Todd Sauerbrun, Rohn Stark, Johnny Evans, and Tom Skladany were all punters selected in the second round. Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. We've received your submission. San Diego State's Matt Araiza, meanwhile, might have the strongest leg in the draft. All Rights Reserved. We're not controlling field position.' Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. All 2022 NFL Draft Projections are taken from the latest Sporting News NFL Mock Draft by Vinnie Iyer. He followed that up with a Thanos-like performance at the scouting combine: the 341 lb Davis ran the 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds, the fastest for any player over 330 lb at the combine since 2006; Davis later had a standing broad jump of 10ft 3in, the record for a player over 300 pounds; he tacked on a 34in vertical leap for good measure, a doubletake-worthy figure for someone of his size. Team Contract Type Status Year Signed Yrs Total APY Guarantees Does a terrific job selling fake punts. Although the 40-yard-dash may not be a direct indicator of a players game speed, the fact that Araiza ran a 4.68 is notable in its own right. The temptation to declare it the greatest punting class of all time is understandable. He has another 80-yard punt this season too. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will feature as top picks later this month. But the San Diego State punter, nicknamed "Punt God" by Twitter and anyone that has seen his 80-yard moonshots for three seasons with the Aztecs, has declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. Matt Araiza, Daniel Bellinger and Cameron Thomas, though, have gotten the most buzz . That says two things in particular: one, that I am a sad enough person to have scouted dozens of punters, and two, that Araiza is a special talent at his position. 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. Araiza stands at just over 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds. His, was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including. Former Bills punter Matt Araiza and former SDSU teammates will not face charges in connection with an alleged gang rape of a minor that occurred at an off-campus party in October 2021, the San . The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. I didnt know what a first down was or anything, Faalele told ESPN in 2018. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State University's Matt Araiza. On Aug. 25 shortly after the team awarded Araiza the starting punting job, he was accused of being part of a gang raping of a 17-year-old girl while he attended San Diego State, according to the Los Angeles Times. DATABASE. Talk about ineptitude.) He quickly became a nationally known name after delivering a 82-yard punt in the preseason. Born in Nigeria, Ojabo moved to Scotland in 2007 before heading to the US to attend high school. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. Despite that, things haven't really changed from out first look at it. These primarily center around consistency. More important than the distance is Araizas unusual control of the ball, allowing him to pin opposing offenses deep in their own half rather than just booming the ball out the back of the endzone. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State Universitys Matt Araiza. Or are they? Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . 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. DB/Specialist Pre-Draft Notes (2022 NFL Draft) by Shane Hallam April 21, 2022 0 520. The San Diego State punter set a 4.68-second 40-yard dash while registering a 101 broad and 32 vertical jump. After the horrendous playoff performance, the Packers . Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead recently explained to the Athletic why that's a concern. Despite his relatively low recruiting profile, there was a level of expectation around the program when the versatile kicking weapon was finally handed the opportunity to play for the Aztecs in 2019. His footprints adorn the record books at the position. To put that in perspective, there were only six punts of 70 or more yards by every NFL punter combined last season. Meanwhile, Texas specialist Cameron Dicker has punting and kicking versatility. Vendetta Sports Media is sponsored by Monkey Knife Fight, the fastest growing DFS site in the industry. August 28, 2022 2:44pm. One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. and 387lb (!!) Matt Araiza was selected in the sixth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. 2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three punters picked, The punter prospects projected to be drafted in this 2022 NFL Draft prediction, Ryan Stonehouse and Cameron Dicker round out punter predictions for the 2022 NFL Draft. From his own end zone here, he manages to kick the ball roughly 70 yards through the air, and it bounces enough to make it an 86-yard punt in the stat book. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. Entry: 2022 Draft, Round 6, #180 overall (Bills) Contract History. At least three punters will be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft that is the prediction. Brugler's take: The Ray Guy Award winner last season, Araiza has a booming leg and showed it off as a punter and kicker (field goals, extra points, kickoffs . MORE:NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. With his power and quick punting style, gunners often have minimal time to cover Araizas punts. The first two punters went off the board in the fourth round with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout and the Buccaneers taking Jake Camarda. 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. Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. The previous year, he punted five times for 249 yards, averaging 49.8 yards per punt. He wound up at the same school as Odafe Oweh, a first-round pick for the Baltimore Ravens in last years draft. Versatility is next to ability or something of that nature. While his power has never been in question, the San Diego State punter displayed accuracy while placing punts with aplomb in front of the eyes of the NFL. 147, a high fifth-round pick. The following is a complete Matt Araiza NFL Draft profile, including stats, highlights and a mock projection. Banners rationale is driven by the notion of replacement value. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Araiza is averaging 54.0 yards per punt, which would crush the NCAA and NFL records51.0 in college (set in 2018 by Braden Mann) / 51.4 in the NFL (set in 1940 by Slingin' Sammy Baugh). 2023 Mock Drafts 2024 Mock Drafts 2025 Mock Drafts. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we expect. As a San Diego native, there was naturally just one choice. Now for the burning question: where will Araiza be drafted in April? Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. That ability to flip the field to pin opponents deep in their own half, no matter where his own offense stalls out serves as a cheat code. and that Bill Belichick is already salivating over using a second-round pick on him in the 2022 NFL Draft. Kicking It With Matt Araiza: Former SDSU Kicker On His Punting Past, Present and NFL Future After declaring for the NFL Draft, former San Diego State kicker and Rancho Bernardo High School alum . Ojabo is now anticipated to go in the late stages of the first round, though he could fall further if teams fear that some of the first-step quickness that made him such a tantalizing prospect has been sapped by the injury. He quantified the athletic ability displayed on punt return coverage with an excellent showing at the NFL Combine. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we dont want to see. Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. Araiza may be the greatest college punter of all time. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Matt Araiza Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his 86-yard punt against San Jose State in October. Redshirting his 2018 season, Araiza learned under San Diego State kicker John Barron II. The 2022 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 28th. He possesses all the tools to start in the NFL and will be a very early draft pick for a punter. You must be logged in to post a comment 154) - 1 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. Used as a field-goal kicker for San Diego State and shows the ability to hit them from long distance. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). While college kickers take their share of criticism, the level of scrutiny and the ability to quickly lose your job in the NFL requires an exceptional level of equilibrium. It is officially mock draft season! Track the most effective teams on first down in the league, and youll notice they just so happen to be the most effective defenses. Matt Araiza Overview. The San Diego State punter has a career-long 53-yard field goal to his name. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. This season, Araiza has set r. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his. As a matter of fact, he already seems to be fully embracing his new team. 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. He showcases very good touch and a repeatable delivery. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. When it comes to punters, the bigger surprise is that the Buccaneers took Camarda over Araiza. Those two picks were also somewhat surprising, if only because you almost never see two punters get taken that early With Stout going at 130th overall and Camarda going three picks later, this year marked just the third time since 1993 that two punters were taken before the end of the fourth round. Hes not just the last line of defense, either. San Diego State wasnt prepared for this 10-man rush of the punter, but that didnt matter to Araiza. Mock Draft Database Sites; NFL NBA NHL MLB. Landing both prospects would fill position needs, but that's a dream scenario because Gardner will likely be long gone if the Chargers decide to stay at No. I am sure he is very upset and disappointed that his career with the Bills ended not because he played poorly but because of false allegations leveled against him by a young lady and her attorney, Araizas lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, told the AP. Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically . Punt God. This season, Araiza has set records and social media alight with his left leg cannon. Other Draft Prospects: TE Daniel Bellinger (UFA), LB Caden McDonald (UFA) "The coach I had for my first eight years in New Orleans, if I hit a punt over 55 yards, he was mad," Morstead said. holy crap.you know what I just realized? That's no fault to the other guys on the offensive or defensive side of the . Twenty-nine percent of his punts went for touchbacks. Our written profile to add to our NIL Apparel and Podcast Interview of College Football's #1 Punter #sdsu #NFLDraft. Coach Marwan Maalouf, currently coaching special teams at the University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams coach, thinks highly of Araiza. I recognize that my train of thought may be different from the rest of the league. 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). P Matt Araiza earned $216,148 in his NFL career. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. WCGs Lead Draft Analyst shares brief anecdotes on each of his top performers from Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Combine. As mentioned before, Araiza is incredibly versatile and can help the special teams unit in an impactful way. With Camarda now in Tampa, that likely spells the end of Bradley Pinion's three-year run with the team. The victims lawyer, Dan Gilleon, said the Bills also ignored his warnings about Araiza in late July. The Ray Guy Award bears his name. This versatility only adds to his value heading into the NFL Draft since he can be the kickoff specialist as well as fill in as an emergency kicker should the starter suffer an injury during a game. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, the highest he is projected to go is in the fifth round picks 144 through 179. Araiza, one of the Buffalo Bills' sixth round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, boomed a . The Packers in 2021 saw Mason Crosby struggle and it may have been the end of his Packers career. In 2021, the Bills only punted a total of 52 times, which was tied for the fifth-lowest total in the NFL. 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. Most fans expected San Diego State's Matt Araiza to be the first punter selected in the 2022 NFL draft, but multiple prospects at his position came off the board before he heard his name called . They also dont currently have a fourth-round pick, barring some wheeling and dealing on Draft Day. He isnt a novelty: hes an assured pass protector who has the huge frame that could make him special. Draft Order & Rookie Pools; . A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. Clouding Strongs status is a knee injury that he picked up playing basketball as a kid, one that saw him miss his senior year of high school football. The reigning Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's top punter, Araiza set an FBS record with a 51.19-yard . 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. Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News. You cant even tell that traveling more than 60 yards through the air is a difficult task for a punter by how easy Araiza makes it look. Certainly, the conversation around Araiza as a potential Day 2 prospect fuels that narrative. Stroud: I dont want to go to the Bears; thats Fields team, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way. Dallas Intends to Tag Pollard, 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. The [] However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. He also set school records in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles during his high school career. If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. But there are tantalising stories further down the board. Drawing attention across the media landscape driven by the king of punters himself, Pat McAfee Araiza has broken records with his ridiculously powerful left leg. Reportedly other teams did. Hi coach, Ojabo said. I cant see him falling past Round 4, which seems like a weird thing to say about a punter, but thats definitely the case with him. While Araiza has been electrifying college football this season, Georgia punter Jake Camarda should earn himself the nickname Mr. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. The Bears find themselves not only needing a new punter to replace Pat ODonnell and compete with Ryan Winslow, but they also have several other needs on the roster. Current. While Ive just talked you through a brief history lesson of punting in the NFL Draft, the San Diego State product is coming off a historic season of college football punting. For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. 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. Now, he is one of the rarest prospects in football: a punter with buzz. He created a draft buzz. 2021 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST SECOND TEAM (COACHES): PK - Matt Araiza, Jr., San Diego State,.Araiza, a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, has already set NCAA records in 50-yard punts (38) and 60-yard punts (18) in a season, and is on track to break Braden Mann's record of 50.98 set in 2018 while with Texas A&M. Here are the San Diego State Aztecs headed for the 2022 NFL Draft, from Cameron Thomas to Matt Araiza. But there can be no doubt that in a jumbled quarterback class, taking a punt on the best pure thrower would represent the best value play for quarterback-needy franchises. Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego State product became well known for booming punts 80 yards and averaging an NCAA-record 51.19 yards . 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at The big-footed San Diego native is considered one of the best prospects in his position over the years and many are eager to see . Before you scoff at this notion and dismiss it based on the allegation that Reeder is a "terrible" NFL player who wasn't even drafted, let's look at how the 2 players measure up. Davis was the force behind college footballs most dominant defense last season, fueling a Georgia group that carried their team to the national championship. The Buffalo Bills had no choice but to cut their youngpunter after so badly botching their response to our claim, Gilleon said in a statement, per the AP. Dicker The Kicker has a 46.3-yard career punting average and 75.9% career field-goal completion. San Diego State. If that seems confusing/odd/laughable (delete as applicable), think about this: In 2021 he hit 18 punts of 60-plus yards and a pair of 80-plus yarders. Shakir, a fifth-round rookie in 2022, got off to a slow start in his career. Matt Araiza is San Diego State's record-setting punter. 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. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter.