All the more impressive, the 2021 season was Araiza's first taking on full-time punting duties for the Aztecs. The Buffalo Bills tweeted out the announcement with a picture of Araiza wearing his red and black Aztecs jersey with now-familiar No. 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? Yet, hed only punted in one game prior to this season. 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. Cameron Thomas, Matt Araiza, and William Dunkle decided to forego their senior seasons on the Mesa and declare for the NFL Draft. 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. 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. 21, 54 and 85. John Stark from Florida State made it into the second round, way back in 1982. 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.. 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. Gennaro Filice provides draft grades for each NFC West team. Matt Araiza is downright dynamite.. 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. And opponents often have to go 90 yards against that incredible defense, because of Araizas amazing punts. Is Araiza the Punter That Was Promised? But he still wasnt punting. March 25, 2022 5 min read. All four players have the talent to compete and excel at the next level. Araiza may be the greatest college punter of all time. It wasnt surprising that San Diego State punter Matt Araiza lasted until the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, where the Buffalo Bills chose Araiza. The NFL scouting combine an intense and significant event in the pre-draft process is underway in Indianapolis. 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. Certainly, a benefit for Araiza is his ability to also excel at kickoffs and handle place-kicking duties if necessary, providing more reason to use a middle-round pick on the Ray Guy Award winner. Cornerback Tayler Hawkins accepted an invite to the Hula Bowl, which takes place on January 15 in Orlando, FL. I know what Im going to bring to the Bills, and Id rather be on my new team than any other team in the NFL, so lets ride. 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. This is a statement of fact rather than a prediction. Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead recently explained to the Athletic why that's a concern. 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. Bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two touchdowns. My sophomore season, we won the state championship, Araiza said. Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. I know what I bring to the NFL. Not only did Matt Araiza launch a punt, but he also made the tackle (via @CBSSportsNet) #ForTheBrand | @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/r1BvgmKKjS. But that's only half-true: Araiza is also statistically the most talented punter prospect of all time. He spends the evenings with his award-winning legs cast in a recovery boot. 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. You can almost hear return men yelling Oh crap! as the balls sail over their heads. !, the nickname Araiza was given during his record-breaking 2021 season. His selection will depend more on his hangtime and ability to prevent big returns than his record-setting statsin the NFL, returners are faster and better, and might be able to get under the balls that are flying over college players heads. In 2020, he dialed in 71.4%, and in 2021, he achieved 64.3%. Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career. Somehow, hes close to the best in the nation at all three. The first specialist chosen was LSU kicker Cade York, who went to Cleveland in the fourth round, six picks before Stout was taken. Did the talent-poor Falcons get the roster infusion they needed? Show me in the rule book where it says a punter cant win the Heisman! 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | No other punter. 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. 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). Dunkle also earned First Team All-American by Pro Football Network and Second Team All-American by the Associated Press. Something I hadnt really told anyone yet is if my professional football career ends and I still have a bit of gas in the tank, Im going to go out and try to play semi-pro soccer somewhere. The draft was held May 3-4, 1979, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York. Araiza is ready and raring to go wherever the next step on his journey takes him. Araiza is a punter by positional designation only - he also kicks field goals and takes San Diego State's kickoffs. 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. In the latest. Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the defending AFC champion Bengals. 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. Plus Stetson and Duggan as Pros With Trent Dilfer (Bonus Episode). 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. , given to the best punter in college football. 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. The 1979 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. 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. Im watching for different reasons than San Diego State fans. 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. Nonetheless, the "Punt God" is headed to the AFC East champions. He spent time at Qualcomm Stadium watching the San Diego Chargers, enjoying the passionate environment in person but still holding soccer in his heart. Its been huge to have that impact on my home town as well. With the 2022 NFL Draft in the books, Adam Schein breaks down what he loved and loathed from the league's Vegas venture. 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. In this years tight end class, Brugler ranked Ferguson 12th, one spot higher than Bellinger. 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. 16.0. Overflowing with accolades and a pious sobriquet, San Diego State punter Matt Araiza is going from the sunny skies of Southern California to the wintery winds of Buffalo, as the Bills selected him with the No. 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. Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop. So that builds his value to your team especially if you have an older kicker who now you can take the kickoff duty from.. Hes a smooth athlete. San Diego States Matt Araiza is having the greatest punting season in college football history. 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. All Rights Reserved. The Punt God is averaging far more yards per punt than Anger did his senior year. He could have even pursued a career in track after setting high school records in the 110m and 300m hurdles at Rancho Bernardo High School. With this one punt, Araiza won the college football weekend:. . Gennaro Filice provides draft grades for each NFC South team. Bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two touchdowns. Matt Araiza is a certifiable weapon. 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. 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. Only two punters have been drafted in the second round: Todd Sauerbrun (Chicago, 1995) and Rohn Stark (Baltimore, 1982). One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. 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