Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically inclined general managers. The Aztec junior is an offensive weapon that frequently puts his defense in favorable spots. Im tougher, stronger, more athletic than Odafe Oweh. 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. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. 174. But that style is outdated in the modern NFL, where the last remaining stick-slide-climb thrower is the ever-ageless Tom Brady. 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. Eric D. Williams goes to practice with Matt Araiza, who could be the first punter selected on Day 2 of a draft since 2012. . CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | Look how Hawaii prepped for Matt Araiza. 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. He kicks returners back a considerable amount that the potential for big returns is still limited. The LA Chargers have 11 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft and there is a chance that the team could draft San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. The LA Chargers could consider drafting Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 2022 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 28th. Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego state product is well known for averaging 80 yards of bounce and an NCAA-record 51.19 yards per punt in 2021. . A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? March 25, 2022 5 min read. He can be seen putting his high school track athleticism to good use getting downfield. 154) - 1 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. However, that doesnt mean that his scouting report doesnt reveal some areas for improvement. Draft Order & Rookie Pools; . Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego State product became well known for booming punts 80 yards and averaging an NCAA-record 51.19 yards . At worst, the allegation contained in a civil lawsuit filed Thursday that Araiza, a former San Diego State star . Araiza stands at just over 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. My names David Ojabo. Former Eagles President and Browns CEO Joe Banner gave his take on how he would approach this unique prospect. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. That was surprising.. Hes unlikely to be the first defensive lineman off the board. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? 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. These arent just courtesy of a lucky bounce either these punts are traveling through the air. 1. According to the Associated Press, executives from two different NFL teams became aware that Araiza had been involved in an incident in the lead-up to the draft, though they didnt know the extent of the allegations. Stout was slightly ahead of him at 44.5 while Camarda was well below both guys at 41.6. Now, he is one of the rarest prospects in football: a punter with buzz. He was an unanimous All-American and the Ray Guy Award winner in 2021, making FBS history as the single-season leader with 51.19 yards per punt. San Diego State's Matt Araiza, meanwhile, might have the strongest leg in the draft. 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. The Ray Guy Award bears his name. Other Draft Prospects: TE Daniel Bellinger (UFA), LB Caden McDonald (UFA) The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. I didnt know the positions or what roles they played. I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was," she said. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. 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. Of course, Davis didnt need to play third downs at Georgia because the damage was already done on the first two downs. 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 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. 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). Other Aztecs are also headed for the NFL Draft as well. However, this style doesnt really translate to the NFL. 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. Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . What Would a Zero-RB Fantasy Football Draft Look Like in 2022? Troy . While a running start can provide for more power, power is far from an issue with Araiza. It's not often the best player on a team is the punter, but that was the case for the Aztecs last season. Let them know that we sent you! More than just power, Araiza has a punting style that causes the ball to roll forward if it is not caught. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 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. But why wasnt he on the field for Georgia on third down? a general manager told NBCs Peter King at the combine. Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . Redshirting his 2018 season, Araiza learned under San Diego State kicker John Barron II. As a result, theres an ever-growing feeling that his floor in the 2022 NFL Draft will be the fifth round. Picking at No. Araiza has a pure fourth-round grade on my board, and he is one point away in my grading scale from what would be considered the greatest punting prospect of all time. Kenny Pickett College Football Highlights 2021, Aaron Rodgers is Using Leverage to Help Davante Adams, DEBUT Tom Brady, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen! Fewer punters have been more consistent than the Georgia prospect. Araiza can take up one spot on a roster, rather than a team having to carry a player at both punter and placekicker. 17 for the first round of the draft. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. 1 CB, Paul Burmeister: Why Derek Carr Might Not Be QB to Win You a Championship, Tracker: Patriots Release QB Hoyer. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. Punts in between the 30s (2021 only):Jordan Stout, Penn State (36 Punts)Inside 20 83%Inside 10 53%Touchback 6%Average Field Pos. If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable.. Multiple punters selected in the draft are also not as rare as youd think. This season, Araiza has set r. The victims lawyer, Dan Gilleon, said the Bills also ignored his warnings about Araiza in late July. 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. Current. The truth of the matter, however, is that Araiza is just the tip of the iceberg of a talented punting class. Indeed, it wouldnt be jaw-dropping to see Araiza a punter! From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. Copyright 2019-2023. NFL Draft Provile. He has another 80-yard punt this season too. Just the 270th-ranked player in California and 2,609th nationally, Araiza held only three offers, with San Diego State winning out over UMass and FCS-level Montana. 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. He has a repeatable and pro-ready approach with consistently polished footwork. . That, combined with the more condensed splits in the NFL, makes a rugby-style delivery tough to impossible to pull off consistently. #Bills #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/EA1iEWkdyA. Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. In addition to his prowess as a punter, Araiza has a 73.5% success rate as a field-goal kicker. Certainly, the conversation around Araiza as a potential Day 2 prospect fuels that narrative. Both batches of decision-makers agree on one overriding idea: Field position really, really matters. Matt Araiza, Daniel Bellinger and Cameron Thomas, though, have gotten the most buzz . Just the 270th-ranked player in California and 2,609th nationally, Araiza held only three offers, with San Diego State winning out over UMass and FCS-level Montana. Possesses a monster leg, gets tremendous hang time on punts, and allows coverage teams to get downfield and make the play. Additionally, few of these punters have been widely recognized as the best at their position, even for one season. It is officially mock draft season! Updated. One of the most dangerous weapons in college football is San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. The team admits learning about the allegation in July. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. With the 175th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. 147, a high fifth-round pick. His 51.2 yards per punt is the most in a single season by any college punter in the history of the sport. The left-legged punter can effortlessly boom the ball the entire length of the field. With the NFL Draft fast approaching, six former San Diego State players soon may learn their football fates. 901 He maintained composure in a penetrated backfield, and he was able to send the ball 65 yards through the air with ease. Punter. Weve been studying the players for 11 months. So that builds his value to your team especially if you have an older kicker who now you can take the kickoff duty from.. SOMEONE GET ME A TABLE!! What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Araiza. For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. Vendetta Sports Media is sponsored by Monkey Knife Fight, the fastest growing DFS site in the industry. 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. San Diego State wasnt prepared for this 10-man rush of the punter, but that didnt matter to Araiza. 17 for the first round of the draft. Not only did he lead the nation in punting average with an FBS-record 51.4 yards per punt, but he also had six punts of at least 70 yards in 2021, which was the most in the country. The punt went for a touchback, but when you still factor the flipping from San Diego States 21-yard line to Hawaiis 20-yard line, thats still a 59-yard flip with the touchback. Faalele is from Melbourne, and an assistant coach for Hawaii on a scouting trip to Australia discovered him while he was rehabbing an injury at a local gym. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Punting out of the end zone can be tough for some punters, as there isnt much margin for error if pressure gets into the backfield, and there is more of a condensed space to operation out of. . The draft is sharpening into focus. Brewer. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. Where most people have legs attached to their torso, Araiza has an actual cannon. He has the power to flip the field with one kick. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. School: San Diego State. As a FG kicker, his completion percentage has declined with every college season. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. That isnt the case with Araiza, who ran pro-style formations at San Diego State. His footprints adorn the record books at the position. Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News. San Diego State P Matt Araiza. This next punt traveled 88 yards through the air, landing from his own 12-yard line to the literal goal line. It can bail out a sloppy offensive possession by turning it into a healthy defensive position. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football. When a guy leads college football in all major punting statistics including average yards, punt yards per game, punts inside the 20 yard line, and PATs made, he's going to draw NFL draft attention. With Araiza now in Buffalo, that puts veteran punter Matt Haack on the hot seat. Reportedly other teams did. In 2019, he hit 84.6% of his kicks. The Bills may not have knownaboutthe allegations hanging over punter Matt Araiza when they drafted him, but at least two other teams had an inkling that something had happened. 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. Araiza denied the allegations in a statement released by his agent on Friday, but has not spoken publicly himself. And yet, the prediction of a multiple-punter class in the 2022 NFL Draft might surprise a few people. Pro Football Network, LLC. Matt Araiza is one of the only players in the 2022 NFL Draft who can make an immediate impact. It is officially mock draft season! Araizas game against UNLV gave the football world its first glimpse of him as a punter, nailing 4 of 5 punts over 50 yards. This season, Araiza has set records and social media alight with his left leg cannon. We're not controlling field position.' Odds & lines subject to change. 2. The San Diego, California native has a career kicking percentage of over 73% as the Aztecs kicker. Did I mention that Araiza has a powerful leg? Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. DB/Specialist Pre-Draft Notes (2022 NFL Draft) by Shane Hallam April 21, 2022 0 520. But how have other drafted punters panned out 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. At least three punters will be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft that is the prediction. By. Matt Araiza did the unthinkable for a punter during the 2021 college football season. Kiper's updated Big Board for the 2022 NFL draft: Ranking the best prospects at every position 1y Mel Kiper Jr. Araiza, who had one year left of eligibility, set the record for punting average in . 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. Positives: Strong-legged punter whos also an exceptional directional kicker. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. He also set school records in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles during his high school career. Some draft projections have listed Araiza as a potential Day 2 selection, when rounds 2-3 will be conducted. Punters can be prolific athletes, too! Hes also hit a 60+ yarder in each of his four years for the Bulldogs. Winning the first down forcing a negative play or creating a second-and-ten is how defenses can keep up in the era of the chunk play offense. Camarda has averaged 46.8, 46.6, and 46.7 yards per punt, respectively, over the past three seasons. Think thats an exaggeration? This begs the question: how well will Matt Araiza transition to the NFL? 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. Hawaii had two returners lined up with one much farther back than the traditional return distance and the punt still went over both of their heads. Win at all costs happens with every team. But now Araiza is gone, released Saturday afternoon, and with the preseason games over, the Bills have to trim . Being a left-footed punter, teams will have to adjust their formations to help fit his needs. Araiza seems like he's going to be a good fit in Buffalo. He also has the FBS record for 60+ yard punts. 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. Araiza has as many 80-yard punts in just this season as the NFL has produced since 2013. Heading into the pre-draft process, Ojabo was projected to be a top-15 pick. Above is a plot of the average Approximate Value (AV) of a punter per season who has been drafted in the last 15 seasons. Araiza, nicknamed the "Punt God," was a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Ray Guy Award in 2021. 31, the Cincinnati Bengals sit in one of the most interesting spots of any team in the 2022 NFL draft. Ethan Sears. Matt Araiza NFL Draft projections. Track the most effective teams on first down in the league, and youll notice they just so happen to be the most effective defenses. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . Above is a plot of the average. A minor nitpick in Araizas game is that a quick delivery like his can make it tougher for his teammates to cover significant ground in coverage, but when you factor in how much stronger his leg is than the average punter, it doesnt even matter. Talk about ineptitude.) Meanwhile, he averaged 41.7 yards on 120 punts that tallied over 5,000 yards. With only two defenders shooting downfield, returning teams dont have to worry as much about initial pressure up the middle and have more of an opportunity to rush the punter. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. 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 | Araiza served as SDSU's placekicker while he was in college, so he's never had to hold. The temptation to declare it the greatest punting class of all time is understandable. The Buffalo Bills released rookie punter Matt Araiza on Saturday night. Stop by our 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel for Bear Bones LIVE at FIVE as we get in on some mock draft fun! They'll give up some big returns, but they'll also have some giant flips of field position.". Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. Consistency, then Penn State punter Jordan Stout should be called Mr. Matt Araiza is the greatest collegiate punter I have ever watched. He also has the ability to make tackles, with speed and athleticism. 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. ), wins college football weekend, deserves the Heisman . 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. go off the board in the second round. This season Araiza hasnt had a single kick punt or field goal blocked. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. Following a flourish of free agency action, theres a clearer picture of NFL team needs. (AV) of a punter per season who has been drafted in the last 15 seasons. Between high school punting and a love of soccer, he developed a powerful leg that has been comfortably the most powerful in college football this last season. Tracker; Grades; Spending; Tenders; Draft. 2023 Mock Drafts 2024 Mock Drafts 2025 Mock Drafts. He wound up at the same school as Odafe Oweh, a first-round pick for the Baltimore Ravens in last years draft. It is not a good look for a franchise that prides itself on culture and character. 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. Pro Football Network, LLC. 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.
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