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. John Stark from Florida State made it into the second round, way back in 1982. John Harbaugh is a former special teams coach and he has a better eye for punters and kickers than any other head coach in the NFL, so if he wanted Stout, you can bet he liked his punting style more than he liked Araiza's booming style. Brugler praised Thomas lateral quickness and constant effort to get to the ball. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2022 Bowman Draft Paper Base #BD-73 Jakob Marsee - San Diego Padres at the best online prices at eBay! . Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his. Its been huge to have that impact on my home town as well. At the time, a young Araiza couldnt have imagined becoming a national punting icon. Ray Guy, for whom a college football award is named, was a first-round pick in 1973. The Aztecs are 7-0 and have the nation's 5th-ranked defense with a potent rushing offense. He now holds the record for single-season punt average, with 51.19 yards per punt. Gennaro Filice provides draft grades for each NFC North team. Stout will likely end up replacing the longtime Ravens punter, who turns 40 in August. Bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two touchdowns. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. Show me in the rule book where it says a punter cant win the Heisman! Sprint draft legal and classic sprint distance triathlon held at Mission Bay and Fiesta Island . 2022 NFL Draft, Matt Araiza, Mountain West Football, San Diego State Football, Mountain West Football, NCAAF, NFL Draft, San Diego State, 2023 NFL Combine: Preview, Schedule, How To Watch. Araiza also boomed an 86-yard punt last season, which was the longest in college football. I always knew I could have that level of success, he said. 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. Should he be the Mountain West Player of the Year? 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. Where most players have a left leg, the San Diego product has what can only be described as a cannon. He has incredible poise and does not lose his cool and, for much of the 2021 season, led special teams in tackles. 23 overall by the then-Oakland Raiders in 1973. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. 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. I recognize that my train of thought may be different from the rest of the league. That motor really helps him frequently make tackles away from the line of scrimmage that a lot of defensive ends just dont make. Around 20 minutes north of San Diego State University lies North County Soccer Park. Personally, I would not draft a punter, regardless of how good he is, until the 7th-round the 6th-round at the earliest. Hes also redefining how valuable punters can really be. All that matters is watching him boom footballs as far as he can. A story of soccer to San Diego, from punter to Punt God. The San Diego, California native has a career kicking percentage of over 73% as the Aztecs kicker. I loved European football, soccer. Araiza is a punter by positional designation only - he also kicks field goals and takes San Diego State's kickoffs. !, the nickname Araiza was given during his record-breaking 2021 season. Neutral Media. Braden Mann, the punter who previously held the FBS record with a 50.98 average, was drafted by the New York Jets in the 6th round in 2020. The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. NFL Draft. 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. Im excited for change. The selection of Araiza gave SDSU four players in the 2022 NFL Draft. This, surprises me. The San Diego State punter capped off his final season at the college level with the ultimate honor for a college punter, the Ray Guy Award. Araiza projects as a punter, because thats where hes setting records, and because hes a lefty. 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 relationship is not close to being statistically significant here, and the R-squared value is almost negligible. 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. 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. The only two FBS teams that gave him offers were San Diego State and UMass. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. Araiza managed six punts over 70 yards and two in excess of 80 yards. I know how I did at the combine. SDSU ranks 117th out of 130 teams in offensive SP+, but its winning anyway because it dominates field position and keeps opponents off the scoreboard. Bucky Brooks explores what the future holds for each of the top six quarterbacks selected. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. The crash took place before 3 a.m. on Jan. 15., just hours after the Bulldogs . So, what's next for this group -- in 2022 and beyond? 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. Logically, the first media question to. Araiza set a number of ALL-TIME records in this past season, and the lefty has shown that punters can be tough as nails to boot. That was a fun year, and also the year I broke the record for field goals. 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. 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). This is a statement of fact rather than a prediction. 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, thats not all Araiza can do. 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. 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. Is Brad Holmes' enthusiastic drafting paying dividends for the Lions? Special teams coaches will want to see his mechanics, how quick hes able to transition, how the ball comes off his leg, the power that he has in person. In addition to his record-setting punting, hes drilled three 50-yard field goals, second most in college football, and has the fourth-longest average kickoff distance (65.0 yards). More than 300 prospects for the . In 2015, he broke the San Diego sectional record for field goals in a single season, Rancho Bernardo won a state championship, and he was named to the MaxPreps sophomore All-American team. r collecting 20.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks this past season. 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. https://t.co/mIr2tYt8LT. Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the defending AFC champion Bengals. The legend of the Punt God might have been born on Brookshire Street, but it truly began at the soccer park on 14530 Espola Road. Their first three selections are Nos. As a field goal kicker, his completion percentage went down each college season. Well, that was just a way onto the football roster. Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead recently explained to the Athletic why that's a concern. Since NFL defenses vary their fronts constantly, Thomas versatility to play inside or outside will give him a boost to climb teams draft boards. 40-yard time 4.68 seconds Araiza found a home at SDSU, not far from where he grew up. But being at San Diego State for four years, really living it, it made me laugh that I even considered going anywhere else. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. Arm length 30 1/2 several third-round selections at punter. I know my personal traits as an athlete, as a football player, as the leading tackler of a top 25 special teams unit. This is understood by several NFL football squads, which is why he has become a hot item on many teams big boards, chiefly the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots. 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. The Punt God has found a new home. So that builds his value to your team especially if you have an older kicker who now you can take the kickoff duty from.. See college football stories in your feed, Araiza set a new all-time Football Bowl Subdivision record for yards per punt averaging 51.19 yards per punt, passing Texas A&M. He visited Buffalo years ago on a family vacation and is thrilled to return, even if it means purchasing a heavier jacket. With the 2022 NFL Draft in the books, Adam Schein breaks down what he loved and loathed from the league's Vegas venture. He was named to several First and Second All-American Teams by various national media outlets. The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Is a Slick Reminder of What Makes Mando Work, What We Learned From Testing, and a Bahrain GP Preview. You can go as far as your work ethic can take you. So, I think that was probably when I knew I had a shot.. 8 min read. 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. 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 | The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. Since 2001, NFL teams starting drives from inside their own 5-yard line have scored just 16.8 percent of the time. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. 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. NFL Draft Profile: Rhys Byrns, Punter, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. Additionally, few of these punters have been widely recognized as the best at their position, even for one season. 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.. The more you can do to justify a roster spot is the motto of the NFL, said Brugler, adding that teams may feel more comfortable drafting a punter in the fourth or fifth round if they know the punter also has a penchant for touchbacks on kickoffs. Brugler praised Thomas lateral quickness and constant effort to get to the ball. 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. 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. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. The Bills' selection at No. In 2021, the Bills only punted a total of 52 times, which was tied for the fifth-lowest total in the NFL. The former MVP has adapted and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense. If he passes those criteria while youre working him out and he hits the Duke well, able to turn the ball over, then yes, you check off the boxes., Once a special teams coach feels comfortable with Araizas ability, the coach may want to suggest the rest of the front office look into acquiring him in the draft. Diverse team following across multiple sports leagues, but Aztecs come first in college athletics. Pat McAfee later called the Big Punt a Piss Missile, which is just about the highest honor a punter can receive. All these coaches have an opinion of their own and like to make their own decisions, Araiza said. 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. As Matt Araiza prepares to break positional norms in the 2022 NFL Draft class, his talents as a punter can be traced back to his roots at Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego. Is MJF the Second Coming of CM Punk? The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. However, his pass-blocking steadily improved throughout the final ten games of the season, and he finished with a 73.3 pass-blocking grade. 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. San Diego State's Matt Araiza is putting punters on the map, and his scouting report reveals why he's a highly rated 2022 NFL Draft prospect. While punter prospects arent rare theyre more commonplace than youd expect no prospect at the position has captured the imagination with a mastery of their craft quite like the San Diego State standout. While the PFF analytics are excellent indicators of success, NFL teams will trust their evaluations from watching game tape and in-person workouts. Except, maybe Araiza himself. In addition to his record-setting punting, he's drilled three 50-yard field goals, second most in college football, and has the fourth-longest average kickoff distance (65.0 yards). Waring caught 31 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns, almost identical to Bellingers final season. Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters. Above is a plot of the average. 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. He spends the evenings with his award-winning legs cast in a recovery boot. 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. 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. Given the recent trends of where punters have been drafted, it would make sense for Araiza to be selected on Day 3 since only Bryan Anger has been taken before then in the past 15 years. 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. I dont want it to be in the same corner of the country my whole life. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State University's Matt Araiza. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) By . And its not because its Jordan Stout. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season. Bellinger will have a massive opportunity to show teams that he should be drafted in the top 100 like his former tight end mate, starting with the Senior Bowl and then the NFL Combine. A two-star recruit who was ranked as the 19th kicker in the class, he could have elevated his profile at one of the big-name kicking camps. A legitimate question is: Can Matt Araiza also be selected in the first round? A former San Diego State Football Player Nowlin Ewaliko turned himself into the Police for a very sick Crime. Free shipping for many products! Welcome to Buffalo, @Matt_Araiza! Furthermore, it wasnt even a thought. Brugler ranked Bellinger as the 13th-best tight end in this draft class last month. Araiza can literally flip the field. This is no better illustrated than noting that he achieved TWO 80+ yard punts. 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. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 2 and the words: PUNT GOD! 180 overall pick in the sixth round on Saturday. He is also highly accurate as a punter, with 37 of his 79 punts (46.8%) landing inside the opponents 20-yard line in 2021 against just 15 touchbacks. You can almost hear return men yelling Oh crap! as the balls sail over their heads. At the end of Araizas senior season at Rancho Bernardo, he hadnt gotten any scholarship offers, and was still considering soccer as a pathway to his future. The Aztecs are playing for the Mountain West title Saturday and Araiza was going to have a big role again. But, thats not all Araiza can do. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. According to PFF, Dunkle registered a 38.0 pass-blocking grade and committed two penalties against Arizona and a 55.6 grade against Utah the following week on 18 pass opportunities in each game. to gain some insight on how teams are evaluating the Aztecs enrollees as the draft process is set to begin. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. His, was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including. 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. Afc champion Bengals on a family vacation and is thrilled to return, for! Going to have a Big role again record-breaking 2021 season Guy, for whom a college football most recent.. 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