Furthermore, it wasnt even a thought. The Ray Guy Award winner and unanimous First-Team All-American declared for the NFL Draft last week with hopes of becoming the next punter drafted in the NFL. 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 a team is uncomfortable with your holding skills, that could absolutely lead you to dropping in the draft. Although he was the top punting prospect in the draft, Araiza ended up being the third punter selected. Copyright 2019-2023. The junior punter-placekicker from San Diego State is headed to the Buffalo Bills after being chosen Saturday with the first pick in the sixth round of the annual NFL Draft. 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. Will another aggressive draft by Mickey Loomis pay off for the Saints? With Camarda now in Tampa, that likely spells the end of Bradley Pinion's three-year run with the team. The Sixth Man award almost always goes to the NBAs highest-scoring bench player. But a few plays didn't quite go . Unlike other positions, not many teams are looking to add a rookie punter to their team, let alone willing to draft a punter with a precious draft pick. Araizas potential as a kicker and punter was immediately obvious at Rancho Bernardo. Oops. San Diego State punter and Ray Guy Award winner Matt Araiza announced Tuesday that he will be entering the 2022 NFL draft after putting together one of the best punting seasons in college football . Yes, he was already on pace to set the all-time yards-per-punt record, and yes, Araiza had hit an 86-yard punt the week before. But if the Aztecs go undefeated, and Araiza remains their most valuable player, shouldnt he get something more? And its not because its Jordan Stout. That was a huge honor, Araiza said. Araiza found a home at SDSU, not far from where he grew up. I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams.. With Araiza now in Buffalo, that puts veteran punter Matt Haack on the hot seat. Hes hit 14 punts of at least 60 yards, two shy of the NCAA record for the most in a full seasonand the Aztecs still have at least five games to go. Araiza had the seasons longest punt, 86 yards against San Jose State. 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. Araiza will remember that for some time to come, a perceived snub he will use as motivation. There are times where he gets crossed up in pass protection, and his feet get a little stuck in the mud, something Brugler saw on tape against Utah and Arizona, two Power 5 opponents the Aztecs played this year. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? 22 San Diego State 73, New Mexico 71 the last play, Darrion Trammell and the Minnesota job, Lamont Butlers buzzer-beater quiets Lobos, earns SDSU at least a share of Mountain West Conference title, Game preview: No. 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! 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. UC San Diego and San Diego State alumni living in Americas Finest City. Did one NFC West team just accumulate more prospect talent than the rest of the division combined? He now holds the record for single-season punt average, with 51.19 yards per punt. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. San Diego State ranks seventh in overall special teams FEI, which takes into account all aspects of special teams. Matt Araiza is one of the more fascinating prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft which is saying something, considering he's a punter. Are the Bears failing Justin Fields? This reinforces the significance of gross versus net punting averages. Didnt see the second one and my agent called me. They try to be consistent, perfecting their motion so its the same every time. NFL Draft. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? All four players have the talent to compete and excel at the next level. Highest Punter Ever Drafted Russell Erxleben was drafted No. And what's up with the Commanders' value assessment? Vertical jump 32 Araiza projects as a punter, because thats where hes setting records, and because hes a lefty. Three juniors, all local San Diego kids, were named to the Associated Press All-American Teams. 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. I have a way bigger fan base because my Moms a teacher in the school district I grew up in. My sophomore season, we won the state championship, Araiza said. I dont want it to be in the same corner of the country my whole life. It wasn't surprising that San Diego State punter Matt Araiza lasted until the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, where the Buffalo Bills chose Araiza. At some positions, NFL teams can struggle to identify the best players. In the latest. Ill kind of get to squash that whole warm-weather kicker thing.. The Aztecs are playing for the Mountain West title Saturday and Araiza was going to have a big role again. At the time, a young Araiza couldnt have imagined becoming a national punting icon. Obviously, one of the benefits in my decision to pick San Diego State was being close to home. 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 . That was probably the year that started all this momentum towards success on the football field.. Its been huge to have that impact on my home town as well. He visited Buffalo years ago on a family vacation and is thrilled to return, even if it means purchasing a heavier jacket. 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. Araiza had a 6.09 Prospect Grade on NFL.com, compared to 5.99 for Stout and 5.85 for Camarda. Only one punter, Pressley Harvin III, was drafted last year, taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 254th pick (7th round). By Oliver Hodgkinson January 31, 2022 Jump around this article Click to show Matt Araiza is not your average NFL Draft prospect. But, thats not all Araiza can do. 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. 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 2020, he dialed in 71.4%, and in 2021, he achieved 64.3%. He's boomed multiple 80-yarders . Im watching for different reasons than San Diego State fans. 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. After three balls, he told my dad that I was going to play in the NFL, Araiza says. These were certified piss missiles not to be confused with lucky bounces and rolls. 18 Aztecs collapse in final minutes, fall at Boise State, Game preview: No. 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. By submitting your email, you agree to our. 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. 180 overall pick in the sixth round on Saturday. 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. 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. Show me in the rule book where it says a punter cant win the Heisman! Hes a smooth athlete. The former MVP has adapted and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense. 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. Matt Araiza knew the Big Punt was different. And, I was the only sophomore on the team at that time. Georgia punter Jake Camarda was taken three picks later by Tampa Bay. 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 signing bonus in that spot last year was $240,152. 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. Hes big. Stout was among three finalists for the 2021 Ray Guy Award that went to Araiza as the nations top collegiate punter. SOMEONE GET ME A TABLE!! Araiza seems like he's going to be a good fit in Buffalo. published this week, Ryan Wilson has the Chargers drafting Thomas with the 20th pick in the first round. Former Eagles President and Browns CEO Joe Banner gave his take on how he would approach this unique prospect. But the Celtics Brogdon is mounting a well-rounded campaign that hearkens back to some of the earliest Sixth Men. 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