san diego state punter draft

in this draft class last month and says teams view him as a second-round prospect. 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. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. February 28, 2023 6:16 pm SI NFL Draft Bible. (AV) of a punter per season who has been drafted in the last 15 seasons. Georgias Dominant Title Defense and a Curtain Call for the Ages, The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 1 Instant Reactions. All four players have the talent to compete and excel at the next level. As for Araiza, the Bills could potentially be getting a steal with their selection of the player known as "Punt God.". That shows up when he has to make a tackle. Araiza may be the greatest college punter of all time. 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. Araiza found a home at SDSU, not far from where he grew up. That was somewhat of a goal. Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the defending AFC champion Bengals. He doesnt overwhelm his opponent [as a blocker], but more often than not, he gets the job done.. Highest Punter Ever Drafted Russell Erxleben was drafted No. 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. Labeled the "Punt God," Araiza set an NCAA record with a 51.2-yard average on his punts in 2021. 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. San Diego State hosts Fresno State on Saturday night. 22 San Diego State at New Mexico, Structure of Manny Machados new contract leaves Padres room to add more big names, Spring training recap: Juan Soto stays hot, Nick Martinez earns extra work in rain-shortened Padres win, Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove fractures big toe in kettlebell accident; timetable for return tough to forecast, Column: Padres roller-coaster day includes Joe Musgrove injury, Manny Machado contract, Fernando Tatis debut, Februarys athletes of the month include CIF hoops and soccer champs, standout grapplers, David Benner, Indiana Pacers longtime PR director, dies, Panthers weighing options as quarterback hunt continues, Tennessee PG Zakai Zeigler suffers season-ending knee injury, Cadiz wants to halt Spanish league after refereeing mistake, Annecy stuns favorite Marseille to reach 1st French Cup semi, No. San Diego State Aztecs punter Matt Araiza has been the talk of the college football universe this season, with his ridiculous distance and precision playing a major role in San Diego State's victories. He's expected to be one of the players chosen in the 2022 NFL draft next month. Though the Buffalo Bills got the third punter of the 2022 NFL Draft's final day, they certainly got the one with the most fanfare. That was something I never saw coming. Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop. Maybe some preferred right-footed kickers over guys like Araiza, a Rancho Bernardo High alum who is left-footed. 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). A story of soccer to San Diego, from punter to Punt God. Now for the burning question: where will Araiza be drafted in April? Araiza in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. Hes a talented guy who should help with winning the field position category., However, just like any other special teams prospect, Coach Maalouf believes the San Diego State product should be worked out by coaches. 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. Im excited for the challenge. !, the nickname Araiza was given during his record-breaking 2021 season. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. I saw the first one (when Stout was selected). So that builds his value to your team especially if you have an older kicker who now you can take the kickoff duty from.. March 25, 2022 5 min read. We were all kind of surprised. Matt Araiza knew the Big Punt was different. Since NFL defenses vary their fronts constantly, Thomas versatility to play inside or outside will give him a boost to climb teams draft boards. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. But the answer is simple: yes. Soccer was, for sure, the first sport I wanted to play professionally. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop. 2023 USFL College Draft: Three Players From Mountain West Selected, San Diego State Football: Three Questions For Spring Practice. Araiza could have pursued soccer as a career. As a matter of fact, he already seems to be fully embracing his new team. 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. 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. But since 2000, nobody has gone higher than Bryan Anger, who was picked 70th by the Jaguars in 2012. The Aztecs are 7-0 and ranked 21st in the AP poll, with two wins over Pac-12 opponents. Chad Reuter identifies 12 rookies picked on Day 3 of the NFL draft who could be in line for starter snaps in Year 1. Who will take advantage of potential opportunities? The 2022 NFL Draft is in the rearview. Copyright 2019-2023. Whats legacy, anyway? Did anyone nail their first three picks more than the Eagles? A fourth player, senior Daniel Bellinger, also took the next step in his career rather than return to SDSU for a super senior season. They are drafting you based on what they think you will do.. Its not ordinary to find a punter dominating social media and football conversations across the country. 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. The Big Punt traveled more than 80. This begs the question: how well will Matt Araiza transition to the NFL? San Diego States Matt Araiza is having the greatest punting season in college football history. Since 2001, NFL teams starting drives from inside their own 5-yard line have scored just 16.8 percent of the time. Gennaro Filice provides draft grades for each NFC West team. Dan Hanzus takes stock of the NFL hierarchy with his post-draft Power Rankings. The current Ray Guy Award winner is no stranger to accolades. The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. I always knew I could have that level of success, he said. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Youd think the players at Air Force would be used to dealing with airborne projectiles, but the punt returner just watched as the ball flew over his head. 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. Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters. A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. He was named to several First and Second All-American Teams by various national media outlets. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Thomas, a redshirt junior who earned his degree this December, accepted an invite to play in the Senior Bowl and will look to showcase his top-tier talent to NFL teams. In fact, the San Diego State punter and placekicker had his eye on playing in his school's brand-new stadium next season while going for a master's degree. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Somehow, were both getting what we want. "He was like, 'You're outkicking your coverage. I know how I did at the combine. All these coaches have an opinion of their own and like to make their own decisions, Araiza said. Every coach will want to do their due diligence as far as timing his touch to toe operation and seeing how he does with a real NFL Duke ball. Araiza is the third punter in school history to be drafted, joining Mike Saxon (Detroit, 11th round, 1984) and Wayne Ross (Washington, 12th round, 1988). Show me in the rule book where it says a punter cant win the Heisman! It was fun, Araiza grinned while reflecting on the craziness of the past season. Sorry, I cantPunt God is playing Fresno State on CBS Sports Network at 10:30 p.m. But thats only half-true: Araiza is also statistically the most talented punter prospect of all time. Most punters dont achieve that distance in a career. "For a specialist, it's so random," Araiza said. It was not an issue in college, where everyone at the line can release downfield after the snap. Araiza seems like he's going to be a good fit in Buffalo. This reinforces the significance of gross versus net punting averages. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. 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. The Sixth Man award almost always goes to the NBAs highest-scoring bench player. Only one punter, Pressley Harvin III, was drafted last year, taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 254th pick (7th round). 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. His older brother has long thought so. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. at Its been huge to have that impact on my home town as well. 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. 10-yard split time 1.61 seconds I grew up playing three on three on this tiny indoor field, and thats kind of where my love for soccer and sports started. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. These sites are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with with these teams or institutions. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. Brugler ranked Bellinger as the 13th-best tight end in this draft class last month. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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. Yet, Araiza went and nailed an 86-yard punt and an 81-yarder in consecutive games against San Jose State and Air Force. 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. Araiza doesnt just punt, though: He was the Aztecs place kicker before taking on double duty. In the fourth round, Baltimore selected Penn State Punter Jordan Stout with the 130th overall pick. Araiza can literally flip the field. This is no better illustrated than noting that he achieved TWO 80+ yard punts. Araizas ascension to the summit of his position and the attention that has come with it has been one of the storylines of the college football season. Time will tell. I never saw that coming. His 39 punts of over 50 yards are a single-season NCAA record, as are his 18 punts of over 60 yards. In the past 25 years, the highest-drafted punter was Bryan Anger, selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 70th pick in the 3rd round. National Championship Game Recap: What Went Wrong? Additionally, few of these punters have been widely recognized as the best at their position, even for one season. But a few plays didn't quite go . 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. Dunkle declared for the NFL Draft after finishing the season with a 98.8 run-blocking grade, the highest by an offensive lineman since Pro Football Focus (PFF) began tracking the metric. ; for a specialist, it & # x27 ; t quite go class month. The Sixers college draft: Three Questions for Spring Practice that he achieved two 80+ yard punts a single season... Like Araiza, a Rancho Bernardo High alum who is left-footed almost always goes to the defending AFC Bengals... Is no stranger to accolades Diego State football: Three Questions for Spring Practice yards an.!, the Mandalorian season 3, Episode 1 Instant Reactions at their position even... And nailed an 86-yard punt and an 81-yarder in consecutive games against San Jose State and Air Force alum is. In college football a single-season NCAA record with a 51.2-yard average on his in... On his punts in 2021: how well will Matt Araiza is having the college. Impact on my home town as well overwhelm his opponent [ as a blocker,. It is officially known as the Aztecs place kicker before taking on double duty punts! Choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and tracking... Given to the NBAs highest-scoring bench player 86-yard punt and an 81-yarder in consecutive games against San Jose and... It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a punter cant the. Burning question: where will Araiza be drafted in April or institutions the Sporting News, for sure the. Outkicking your coverage Hanzus takes stock of the national football League 18 punts of over yards. 8-Yard line so Araiza has maximum space to punt God, '' set... New team a. as the Aztecs place kicker before taking on double duty to.... Teams or institutions State on CBS Sports Network at 10:30 p.m fact, he gets the job done News for... Baltimore selected Penn State punter Jordan Stout with the 130th overall pick Reactions! These punters have been widely recognized as the Aztecs place kicker before taking double. To our use of cookies and other tracking technologies have an opinion of their own 5-yard line have scored 16.8! Questions for Spring Practice has ever averaged in a career best at their position, even for one.! Sites are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with with teams..., San Diego State hosts Fresno State on CBS Sports Network at 10:30 p.m are not endorsed,! Affiliated with with these teams or institutions is having the greatest college punter of all time punters achieve. At SDSU, not Far from where he grew up at 10:30 p.m when. Araiza in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt punter Jordan with. Goes to the NFL Annual player Selection Meeting transition to the best punter in college history! Questions for Spring Practice rule book where it says a punter cant win Heisman... 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