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In the first of these predictions pieces, Matt Araiza leads a cast of at least three punters selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. It also helps that Araiza is a quality kickoff specialist, as he has finished in the top-5 in the FBS in average distance on kickoffs in 2020, and his touchback percentage of 84.9 percent was the fourth-most in the nation in 2021. The temptation to declare it the greatest punting class of all time is understandable. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. The Ray Guy Award bears his name. Yet, in San Diego State punter Matt Araiza, the 2022 NFL Draft class might possess the most high-profile and highly skilled punter prospect in recent history. and 387lb (!!) And yet, the prediction of a multiple-punter class in the 2022 NFL Draft might surprise a few people. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. "He was like, 'You're outkicking your coverage. That, combined with the more condensed splits in the NFL, makes a rugby-style delivery tough to impossible to pull off consistently. While Araiza had decent success in landing punts inside the 20 this season, he needs to demonstrate consistency in this regard. The former San Diego State punter didn't get selected until the Bills made him the first pick of the sixth round (180th overall). He reportedly said, "Bills Mafia, there is no off-season.". Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. Reportedly other teams did. Araiza is currently averaging 52.2 yards per punt. 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. Consistent directional punter that can kick it out to the sidelines or place it inside the 10-yard line. Special teamers are usually able to be secured as an undrafted free agent or in Round 7, but an elite punting prospect like Araiza who can flip field position at an incredible rate is worth that investment. The coach offered Faalele a scholarship on the spot. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was," she said. Matt Araiza draft projection. A versatile punter who can flip field position and force the opposition to account for him while nailing game-winning field goals with regularity is hard to find. He can be seen putting his high school track athleticism to good use getting downfield. You dont get the award that celebrates collegiate punting excellence without being exceptional. 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. Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. 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. The previous year, he punted five times for 249 yards, averaging 49.8 yards per punt. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. Many even called him the 'Punt God.' However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically inclined general managers. If we include the multi-faceted Travon Walker in the discussion, he may wind up being the third defensive lineman taken from Georgias all-world defensive front. Of the 27 punters drafted in the past 15 seasons, just six of these players have made a Pro Bowl these six punters only made one Pro Bowl each. Meanwhile, Araiza saw some sophomore struggles, completing only 71% of his field goals and missing an extra point for the first time in his career. I didnt know the positions or what roles they played. Araiza, who began his career at San Diego State as a kicker, also converted 96 of 97 extra point attempts and 50 of 68 field goal attempts (73.5 percent), with a long of 54. SOMEONE GET ME A TABLE!! They also dont currently have a fourth-round pick, barring some wheeling and dealing on Draft Day. 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. The Punt God has a legitimate shot at being a day two selection. Here's everything you need to know about Araiza heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2019, he hit 84.6% of his kicks. Weve been studying the players for 11 months. Yep, thats his shirt size and thats eight Xs for those keeping score at home. 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. Finally, Araiza has shown toughness and athletic ability during his time at San Diego State. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. The team admits learning about the allegation in July. P Matt Araiza earned $216,148 in his NFL career. That is the nickname San Diego State's Matt Araiza has received from his incredible collegiate career. 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. The Aztec junior is an offensive weapon that frequently puts his defense in favorable spots. Born in Nigeria, Ojabo moved to Scotland in 2007 before heading to the US to attend high school. 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 . T Formation Conversation: Live from the NFL Combine. 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. Vendetta Sports Media is sponsored by Monkey Knife Fight, the fastest growing DFS site in the industry. The likes of Mitch Wishnowsky and Max Duffy from recent draft classes utilized this style of punting before entering the NFL. That said, it wouldnt be surprising at all if somebody took him as early as Round 3. The LA Chargers could consider drafting Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft. That isnt the case for Araiza, whose naturally quick delivery makes it easy for him to get the ball out and seriously flip field position for his team. That hasn't happened for a punter since 2012, when Jacksonville selected Cal's . You must be logged in to post a comment His 51.2 yards per punt is the most in a single season by any college punter in the history of the sport. 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. Field Pos. Versatility is next to ability or something of that nature. Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State Universitys Matt Araiza. Every front office in the NFL may have Araiza at a different spot on their boards come the last week in April, but the standout college special teams player should hear his name called during the 2022 NFL Draft. An immobile quarterback with a sketchy knee will be a no-no for most teams, and depending on how concerned teams are about the injury he could slip all the way to day three of the draft. 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. The following is a complete Matt Araiza NFL Draft profile, including stats, highlights and a mock projection. 2023 NFL Combine Hand Size Results: Notable Quarterback Measurements and More, 2023 NFL Combine Risers: Christian Gonzalez, Deonte Banks, and Brian Branch Perform Well, Anthony Richardson Combine Results: Florida Star Makes Case for QB1, Jahmyr Gibbs Landing Spots: Eagles, Saints, and Cardinals Most Popular in Mock Drafts. 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. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. The prolific punter also showcased his versatility as a powerful placekicker, hitting 77% of his 48 attempts with a career long of 53 yards. Although he was the top punting prospect in the draft, Araiza ended up being the third punter selected. From there, lift off. NFL Draft Provile. Tracker; Grades; Spending; Tenders; Draft. 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 . For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. 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. 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. That demonstrates a level of composure that will be invaluable at the next level. More than just power, Araiza has a punting style that causes the ball to roll forward if it is not caught. Stroud: I dont want to go to the Bears; thats Fields team, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way. Although on-field punter drills werent televised, onlookers inside Lucas Oil Stadium reported that Araiza was impressive during those sessions at the NFL Combine. 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. The big-legged San Diego native is considered one of the best prospects at his position in years and many are eager to see where he lands. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . As a matter of fact, he already seems to be fully embracing his new team. 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. We've been studying the players for 11 months. Coach Marwan Maalouf, currently coaching special teams at the University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams coach, thinks highly of Araiza. Coffin corners, hang-time, and inside the 20 are phrases being used in evaluation that barely see the light of day ordinarily. Specialists don't often get drafted, but with Araiza being able to flip the field so easily (he has had punts go over 80 yards), an NFL team will likely draft him earlier than fans expect. Our written profile to add to our NIL Apparel and Podcast Interview of College Football's #1 Punter #sdsu #NFLDraft. 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 . Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. The Buffalo Bills have claimed they did not know about allegations recently made in a lawsuit against former punter Matt Araiza prior to the 2022 NFL draft. Although he didnt participate in any all-star games, Araizas ascension has continued through the pre-draft process. Colorado States Ryan Stonehouse featured just behind Araiza this year, with an average of 50.9 yards per punt. If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. But how high, exactly, can we expect a team to take Araiza, winner of the 2021 Ray Guy Award? Gambling problem? Bills get the Punt God in the SIXTH ROUND. 154) - 1 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. The 22-year-old was expected to be the Bills' starting punter after playing well during the preseason. As a result, theres an ever-growing feeling that his floor in the 2022 NFL Draft will be the fifth round. Teams worried about Davis role on third down should instead be focused on how he can tip the scales in their favor on the most important down of all. If Araiza is the Punt God and Camarda is Mr. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. , given to the best punter in college football. Of course, draft analysis, projections and rumors will be dominating the headlines until then. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his 86-yard punt against San Jose State in October. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. Starting with the Punt God himself, lets examine the punter prospects that make up this unlikeliest of NFL Draft predictions. The San Diego State redshirt junior did so by setting an NCAA record with 36 punts of . Team Contract Type Status Year Signed Yrs Total APY Guarantees During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). With his all-around contributions, Stout truly puts the special in special teams. Track the most effective teams on first down in the league, and youll notice they just so happen to be the most effective defenses. However, that doesnt mean that his scouting report doesnt reveal some areas for improvement. Theres simply no escaping it. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at Stroud doesnt want to go to the Bears because Justin Fields, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way When the idea of, CONTENT 2018 2022 VENDETTA SPORTS MEDIA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions, Why Mitchell Trubisky Is Destined To Fail In The NFL, Barstool Sports Employee Jordyn Woodruff Joins OnlyFans, Sean Allen Sucks At Fantasy Hockey: 2022 Edition, Predicting Four 2023 Middle Linebacker Free Agent Destinations, Von Miller Eyeing GM Career Post Retirement, C.J. At worst, the allegation contained in a civil lawsuit filed Thursday that Araiza, a former San Diego State star . An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. Possesses a monster leg, gets tremendous hang time on punts, and allows coverage teams to get downfield and make the play. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Throughout his time as an Aztec, Araiza also successfully . 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. But there are tantalising stories further down the board. What I was asked to do was different from a skill set (perspective) than maybe other players have. NFL draft projection. Araiza seems like he's going to be a good fit in Buffalo. 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. 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. He created a draft buzz. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. In 35 games across three years at San Diego State, he punted 84 times for 4,293 yards a 51.1 yards-per-punt rate. Analysis: Araiza took a step to the forefront last season and was a rockstar punter for the Aztecs. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. School: San Diego State. 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. After hitting an 86-yard punt against Hawaii, Araiza has become something of a social media starlet, earning the nickname Punt God.. Did I mention that Araiza has a powerful leg? Bills rookie punter Matt Araiza, who has quickly risen to fame with a strong leg and a catchy nickname, faces a very serious off-field issue before his first NFL game.According to the Los Angeles . C.J. SUBSCRIBEto the Vendetta YouTube Channel! The WCG crew ran through several free agency questions in this roundtable, and today we gave our pick for the signings we want the Bears to avoid. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. Faalele looks more like a long-lost third Clegane brother than a starting NFL tackle. A team will take the bet that Faalele can, probably in the first round. He also has the FBS record for 60+ yard punts. Matt Araiza Overview. Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . Now time for my prediction: I believe Matt Araiza will be selected in the later portion of Round 4, or in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Former Eagles President and Browns CEO Joe Banner gave his take on how he would approach this unique prospect. He wound up landing at Minnesota, using the Madden video game series to swot up on the rules and regulations. There have been multiple third-round selections, while FSU punter John Stark was a second-round choice in 1982. Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so. It is not a good look for a franchise that prides itself on culture and character. Consistency. Consistent ball striking, hang time, and placement are key factors in punter evaluation. We explored a massive trade-down scenario in a recent seven-round mock draft. One of the most dangerous weapons in college football is San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. Matt Araiza is the greatest collegiate punter I have ever watched. But there are questions about Davis viability at the NFL level. Based on net punting averages, you can usually find UDFAs who will rank above average at the position in directional punting and hang time.. But, thats not all Araiza can do. Although there's some concern that Araiza's booming punts could lead to him outkicking his coverage, San Diego State seemed to do just fine covering his punts. Hang time and accuracy are just as important in the NFL. The term generational talent is incredibly cliche and should be avoided more often than not, as hyperbolic analysts can throw it around to simply describe prospects who are very good, regardless of whether theyre far and away better than other players at their position over the last few decades. The injury has continued to plague his career, forcing further surgeries in 2020 and 2021. His performances earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where Jim Nagy had this to say about the 2022 NFL Draft prospect: Had calls with some of [the] top kicking gurus and overwhelming opinion is Georgias Jake Camarda is among best punting prospects to come out in past 5-10 years. All the more impressive, the 2021 season was Araiza's first taking on full-time punting duties for the Aztecs. That might scare some people given the hype and eventual failures of Roberto Aguayo, but some team will still take a shot on him earlier than the average punter. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. 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. Ethan Sears. NFL GMs have got to love that. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. The left-footer with the big leg has been widely projected by draft analysts as the top . Pro football is a game of land acquisition, played four downs at a time. 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. Punters can be prolific athletes, too! Araiza was selected by the Bills in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. San Diego State wasnt prepared for this 10-man rush of the punter, but that didnt matter to Araiza. FREE Boxing fight stream. He maintained composure in a penetrated backfield, and he was able to send the ball 65 yards through the air with ease. We're not controlling field position.' Stout will likely end up replacing the longtime Ravens punter, who turns 40 in August. DATABASE. The NFL Draft doesn't usually give us very many surprises when it comes to punting, but it came through with two big surprises on Saturday. 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. When and how often will Davis play? As a San Diego native, there was naturally just one choice. 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. 2023 NFL Combine Hand Size Results: Notable Quarterback Measurements and More, 2023 NFL Combine Risers: Christian Gonzalez, Deonte Banks, and Brian Branch Perform Well, Anthony Richardson Combine Results: Florida Star Makes Case for QB1, Jahmyr Gibbs Landing Spots: Eagles, Saints, and Cardinals Most Popular in Mock Drafts. Some draft projections have listed Araiza as a potential Day 2 selection, when rounds 2-3 will be conducted. 2. His footprints adorn the record books at the position. Can he shuffle his size-18 feet quickly enough to keep up with Von Miller off the edge? 17 for the first round of the draft. Thats what teams are still trying to figure out. An achilles injury at Michigans pro day has seen his stock take a hit and served as an example of the dark side of the draft process. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. His 32 vertical jump was the same as Chris Olave, our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. 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. 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. . I hope he is back in the NFL soon., Asked about the decision not to contact Gilleon, Bills GM Brandon Beane said in a press conference that Kathryn DAngelo, the teams attorney, heard what he had to say and thats when we began our process., Were not perfect. Araiza, nicknamed the "Punt God," was a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Ray Guy Award in 2021. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? However, he set a new single-season program record for field goals with 22. FILE - San Diego State's Matt Araiza (2) celebrates his field goal against .