The 2022 NFL Draft surprisingly saw just one QB taken in the first two rounds, but that doesn't doom the entire crop to irrelevance. Should he be the Mountain West Player of the Year? Brugler predicts Bellinger will be the second San Diego State player drafted (after Cameron Thomas). But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? No one in our family had control over that. During his freshman and sophomore years he was put in charge of placekicking and kickoffs; very few schools let one player kick, punt, and handle kickoffs. Its been a huge honor.. I grew up playing three on three on this tiny indoor field, and thats kind of where my love for soccer and sports started. The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. As for Araiza, the Bills could potentially be getting a steal with their selection of the player known as "Punt God.". The success of a hometown kid has had a significant impact on the community, and for all the nicknames, memes, and hilarity it brings, the San Diego State punter has also provided inspiration for a younger generation. The reality is that Araiza is one of a kind, hence the nicknames Anomaly and Punt God.. Cornerback Tayler Hawkins accepted an invite to the Hula Bowl, which takes place on January 15 in Orlando, FL. Is Araiza the Punter That Was Promised? Time will tell. Bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two touchdowns. But Araiza described them to me as not being fun or real football. As a result, he stayed close to home, a decision that has meant more to him than he ever knew. Araiza can literally flip the field. This is no better illustrated than noting that he achieved TWO 80+ yard punts. 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. He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs, setting the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season record for average punt yardage as a junior. Hes going to make stops at all different points of the field, said Brugler. Did one NFC West team just accumulate more prospect talent than the rest of the division combined? released on November 30, 2021, Brugler slotted Thomas to the Dallas Cowboys with the 25th pick of the first round, adding, Thomas has been nearly unblockable this season for the Aztecs, currently leading college football with 72 pressures., Thomas won the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year afte. Stout was slightly ahead of him at 44.5 while Camarda was well below both guys at 41.6. 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. Since NFL defenses vary their fronts constantly, Thomas versatility to play inside or outside will give him a boost to climb teams draft boards. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, the highest he is projected to go is in the fifth round picks 144 through 179. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. 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. against San Jose State in October. Three juniors, all local San Diego kids, were named to the Associated Press All-American Teams. In 2020, he dialed in 71.4%, and in 2021, he achieved 64.3%. H, es going to make stops at all different points of the field, said Brugler. But Araiza has a rocket launcher for a leg, so for him consistency is making highlights. A hundred percent, a hundred percent, said Araiza, who watched the draft from home with family and friends. All four players have the talent to compete and excel at the next level. March 25, 2022 5 min read. But whats the legacy of the blockbuster album? Freshman year of high school. How high is his ceiling at the NFL level? Will Malik Willis develop into a high-end QB for the Titans? Brugler praised Thomas lateral quickness and constant effort to get to the ball. Araiza shattered the all-time record of 32 punts of 50 or more yards in a single season, by achieving 39. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego is known worldwide as one of the best tourist destinations and a great place for residents to relax year round. Punters dont try to make highlights. 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. I dont think I realized how important it was when I made the decision, Araiza said. This last selection is commonly referred to as, List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com, List of 2000s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1979_NFL_Draft&oldid=1142347380, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 22:29. San Diego States Matt Araiza is the third punter in school history selected in the NFL Draft. Even if we factor in returns and touchbacks, Araiza is on pace for history: SDSUs net punting average is 46.7 yards per punt; since the NCAA started including touchbacks in net punting average, no team has been better than 45.0. Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters. Only two punters since 1982 were drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft; Rohn Stark with the 34th pick in 1982 by the Baltimore Colts and Todd Sauerbrun with the 56th pick in 1995 by the Chicago Bears. I never saw that coming. But Matt didnt have dreams of special teams stardom. One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. Its not ordinary to find a punter dominating social media and football conversations across the country. As a field goal kicker, his completion percentage went down each college season. 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As mentioned before, Araiza is incredibly versatile and can help the special teams unit in an impactful way. Araiza found a home at SDSU, not far from where he grew up. Araizas potential as a kicker and punter was immediately obvious at Rancho Bernardo. I remember having some coaches pull me to the side and told me, Hey, if you take football seriously, with your leg you have a lot of potential. Ray Guy, for whom a college football award is named, was a first-round pick in 1973. Arm length 30 1/2 He's boomed multiple 80-yarders . Will Deadly January Car Accident Tank Jalen Carters Draft Stock? Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop. . 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). Araiza had the seasons longest punt, 86 yards against San Jose State. Araiza set the FBS record this year with a 51.19 average. He ran track as an underclassman at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, and recently told the Union-Tribune that the hurdles helped his footwork on punting. 8 min read. At some positions, NFL teams can struggle to identify the best players. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. (Derrick Tuskan / San Diego State Athletics), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, College baseball wrapup: USD right-hander James Sashin reaping rewards for persistence and hard work, Aztecs QB Jalen Mayden gets full offseason to grow in starting role, College baseball weekend: Tony Gwynn Legacy event a reminder of Hall of Famers legendary life, Aztecs looking for feedback from football season-ticket holders, Aztecs announce executive staff hire at transformative moment for schools athletic department, Aztecs begin offseason drills with a spring in their step, No. Mountain West Football: Who Had The Most Turnover Luck In 2022? Matt Araiza is one of the more fascinating prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft which is saying something, considering he's a punter. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football.He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. 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. Araiza served as SDSU's placekicker while he was in college, so he's never had to hold. He had an excellent showing in the combine, punting with stunning accuracy before impressing attendees with his sprinting. I dont think Ive ever seen a ball travel like that before.. The draft was held May 34, 1979, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. A kicker or punter has never finished in the top 10 of Heisman Trophy voting, but thats just because they fashioned the statue after a guy running instead of a guy punting. Only two punters since 1982 were drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft; Rohn Stark with the 34th pick in 1982 by the Baltimore Colts and Todd Sauerbrun with the 56th pick in 1995 by the Chicago Bears. All You Touch and All You See: Dark Side of the Moon at 50. I just mean Matt Araiza out of San Diego State is maybe the best punter Ive seen in my lifetime and, yet, Baltimore likes Stout., And after Camarda was selected: Am I the only one Araizas the guy we all focused in on.. San Diego State punter Matt Araiza is no ordinary prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. The Aztecs Punt God gained a national following for his record-setting exploits last season. Araiza managed six punts over 70 yards and two in excess of 80 yards. Aztecs head coach Brady Hoke recently said that Araiza is the teams MVP. Over the past half-decade, 12 punters have been drafted. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) By . But the Celtics Brogdon is mounting a well-rounded campaign that hearkens back to some of the earliest Sixth Men. Diverse team following across multiple sports leagues, but Aztecs come first in college athletics. 1, Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau, refused to sign with the Bills and instead inked a lucrative deal with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. What I was asked to do was different from a skill set (perspective) than maybe other players have. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Im watching for different reasons than San Diego State fans. To generate that fan base was a really cool experience and it was awesome to see. But the answer is simple: yes. Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. 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. It's not clear why Araiza dropped all the way down to the sixth round, but there are plenty of theories. And starting this fall, San Diego State also tasked Araiza with doing the thing that he was put on this earth to do: punt the football. Although Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. Oops. Didnt see the second one and my agent called me. Now for the burning question: where will Araiza be drafted in April? So whats his potential in the 2022 NFL Draft? Watch where Araiza ends up on this play! However, it was there that the power of his left leg was harnessed with a view to a long-term career goal. It was a special team, and a special group I got to be a part of. And opponents often have to go 90 yards against that incredible defense, because of Araizas amazing punts. I already know Ill be playing one of the those teams (at Baltimore) this upcoming season. 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. It was something that Im going to be forever grateful for, and I hope to have that same effect on the next fan base, wherever I go. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. Matt Araiza is a certifiable weapon. Kicking? Ill kind of get to squash that whole warm-weather kicker thing.. Spent pretty much countless hours at that field with my Dad, just practicing all different types of stuff for soccer. As his team keeps winning games and his punts keep soaring over the heads of baffled punt returners, he also raises a question: Just how valuable can a punter truly be? Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. The Bills' selection at No. The Commanders might have found their future starting QB when they took Sam Howell in Round 5 -- but he wasn't the only potential gem in the 2022 NFL Draft. Araizas performances have been record-setting. A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. NFL Draft Profile: Rhys Byrns, Punter, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns - Football Alliance. By Oliver Hodgkinson January 31, 2022 Jump around this article Click to show Matt Araiza is not your average NFL Draft prospect. 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. It was not an issue in college, where everyone at the line can release downfield after the snap. But at the very least, Araiza has ensured that pro scouts will look at him, which didnt happen for him coming out of high school. Thomas won the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after collecting 20.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks this past season. Bellinger began training with Jeremy Holt, Owner of AthELITE Performance, yesterday in Music City, USA, along with tight ends Chase Allen (Iowa State) and Jake Ferguson (Wisconsin) in preparation for the NFL Draft. The NFL scouting combine an intense and significant event in the pre-draft process is underway in Indianapolis. Meet Matt Araiza, San Diego State punter who could be among the highest-drafted punters of all time, NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. Punters are an often-overlooked asset on a football squad but San Diego State punter/kicker Matt Araiza has been frequently referenced as the most talented punt prospect in recent history. I know my personal traits as an athlete, as a football player, as the leading tackler of a top 25 special teams unit. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. I loved European football, soccer. 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. "For a specialist, it's so random," Araiza said. When I originally went out for the football team, it wasnt to be a kicker. 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. However, for all the pomp and ballyhoo surrounding the special teams immortal, he was the third punter selected in the draft, following Penn State's Jordan Stout to the Ravens (fourth round, No. . 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. During his high school career, he set the CIF section record for field goals and was named the CIF Kicker of the Year three times. They try to be consistent, perfecting their motion so its the same every time. Reacting to the pick, NFL Network broadcaster Rich Eisen said: Let me tell you something, Buffalo Bills fans, you should be very, very happy. The Aztecs are 7-0 and have the nation's 5th-ranked defense with a potent rushing offense. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. A story of soccer to San Diego, from punter to Punt God. Above is a plot of the average. The draft was held May 3-4, 1979, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York. Chad Reuter ranks his favorite picks in each round. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. That was definitely my first love. Brugler ranked Bellinger as the 13th-best tight end in this draft class last month. Its a loaded defensive end class, Brugler said. When asked if there were any other Aztec players with potential draft stock, Brugler named left tackle Zach Thomas and running back Greg Bell as two guys who have a shot to be late-round picks or priority free agents (PFA). Additionally, few of these punters have been widely recognized as the best at their position, even for one season. While praising Bell for his vision and ability to find the cutback lane, he highlights the struggles in pass protection and ball security. That was something I never saw coming. Araiza is the highest drafted punter in program history and third Aztec punter selected in the NFL Draft, following Mike Saxon in 1984 (300th pick) and Wayne Ross in 1988 (315th pick). For his career, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt. Somehow, hes close to the best in the nation at all three. Matt Araiza, the San Diego State punter, was one of the most exciting players in all of college football last season, booming kick after kick in a way the sport had never seen before. Bell will need to distinguish himself throughout the draft process if he wants to earn a shot at impressing a team and a spot in training camp. 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