His 51.2 yards per punt is the most in a single season by any college punter in the history of the sport. Carson Strong has a great arm but teams will worry about his injury history. Tracking where Matt Araiza could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. Through the first 180 picks, there were more punters selected (3) than were taken in the entire 2021 draft combined (The Steelers selection of Pressley Harvin was the only punter pick last year). The draft is sharpening into focus. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. The. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. With only two defenders shooting downfield, returning teams dont have to worry as much about initial pressure up the middle and have more of an opportunity to rush the punter. Now, he is one of the rarest prospects in football: a punter with buzz. https://t.co/mIr2tYt8LT. If a team is uncomfortable with your holding skills, that could absolutely lead you to dropping in the draft. The Bills may not have known about the allegations hanging over punter Matt Araiza when they . He was also one of four players in the nation who handled all three kicking duties (punts, PATs/field goals and kickoffs), Araiza was 18-of-28 . Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football. Weve been studying the players for 11 months. Scroll through to view photos of P Matt Araiza, Buffalo's pick in the sixth round, 180th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. 1 CB, Paul Burmeister: Why Derek Carr Might Not Be QB to Win You a Championship, Tracker: Patriots Release QB Hoyer. My names David Ojabo. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 147, a high fifth-round pick. That isnt the case with Araiza, who ran pro-style formations at San Diego State. Araiza is averaging 54.0 yards per punt, which would crush the NCAA and NFL records51.0 in college (set in 2018 by Braden Mann) / 51.4 in the NFL (set in 1940 by Slingin' Sammy Baugh). against San Jose State in October. Such a talented punter can serve as a valuable asset for a defense, as burying the opposing offense deep into their own territory makes their lives a lot easier. There have only been 10 punts of 80 yards in the entirety of college football this century. Our written profile to add to our NIL Apparel and Podcast Interview of College Football's #1 Punter #sdsu #NFLDraft. Showcasing an exceptionally powerful leg, he holds the Penn State field-goal record with a 57-yard strike against Pitt in 2019. Of course he was. Using AV from Pro-Football-Reference, this somewhat normalizes the impact of a punter on his team. Matt Araiza is the greatest collegiate punter I have ever watched. What Would a Zero-RB Fantasy Football Draft Look Like in 2022? He has the power to flip the field with one kick. As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, its time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. He played fewer than half of Georgias defensive snaps in 2021 and played only 18% of third-down snaps. 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. Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). Matt Araiza Position: PunterHeight: 61Weight: 200 lbsAge: 21College: San Diego State Aztecs. Matt Araiza'The Weapon' Ready to Destroy Your Perception of an NFL Punter. The list of accomplishments is unreal. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. The buzz over this punting class begins with Araiza. Daniel Faalele after Minnesotas win over Colorado in September. Both batches of decision-makers agree on one overriding idea: Field position really, really matters. Ethan Sears. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. One of the most dangerous weapons in college football is San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. Apr 22, 2022. (AV) of a punter per season who has been drafted in the last 15 seasons. Increasing his punt average with every year, Stout earned an invite to the Senior Bowl, where he impressed in sometimes torrid conditions. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Matt Araiza FREE Boxing fight stream. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his 86-yard punt against San Jose State in October. Most fans expected San Diego State's Matt Araiza to be the first punter selected in the 2022 NFL draft, but multiple prospects at his position came off the board before he heard his name called . Stroud: I dont want to go to the Bears; thats Fields team, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? No wonder the "punt god" is generating NFL draft buzz. , our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. 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. The temptation to declare it the greatest punting class of all time is understandable. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. Below is a quick blurb about each Cornerback, Safety, Kicker, Punter, and Long Snapper I have scouted for the 2022 NFL 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 per punt. However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. While Araiza has been electrifying college football this season, Georgia punter Jake Camarda should earn himself the nickname Mr. Former Bills punter Matt Araiza and former SDSU teammates will not face charges in connection with an alleged gang rape of a minor that occurred at an off-campus party in October 2021, the San . 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. 174. Of course, Davis didnt need to play third downs at Georgia because the damage was already done on the first two downs. 1. player. Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. Stroud Shares Praise for Justin Fields, Fields former OSU teammate and top draft prospect spoke highly of the Bears QB at a Combine media session, Trevis Gipson to particpate in NFL Career Tours. 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. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his. Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. It is not a good look for a franchise that prides itself on culture and character. 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. Mock Draft Database Sites; NFL NBA NHL MLB. 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. His footprints adorn the record books at the position. Simply put, Araiza is the best punting prospect to enter the NFL Draft in quite some time. . 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. DBs and Specialists. Pro Football Network, LLC. "The coach I had for my first eight years in New Orleans, if I hit a punt over 55 yards, he was mad," Morstead said. In the rare occurrence that one of his kicks is returned, Araiza can be found taking down the returner. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. Theres simply no escaping it. Super Bowl 2023 Daytona 500 College Basketball Rankings NBA All-Star . He only makes two steps upon catching the ball, as opposed to a running start that some college punters use. Draft Order & Rookie Pools; . He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. In addition to his prowess as a punter, Araiza has a 73.5% success rate as a field-goal kicker. Continue with Recommended Cookies, (Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State Athletics). Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego State product became well known for booming punts 80 yards and averaging an NCAA-record 51.19 yards . Winning the first down forcing a negative play or creating a second-and-ten is how defenses can keep up in the era of the chunk play offense. 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. Heading into the pre-draft process, Ojabo was projected to be a top-15 pick. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. For this reason, I believe its time for me to do something Ive only done once before: a special teamer breakdown. It's not clear why Araiza dropped all the way down to the sixth round, but there are plenty of theories. He wound up landing at Minnesota, using the Madden video game series to swot up on the rules and regulations. One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. Although drafting a punter often indicates this player will be the unquestioned starter, the position simply is not at a premium where the best at the position and an average player are not too far apart from one another. The Buffalo Bills released rookie punter Matt Araiza on Saturday night. NFL MOCK DRAFT. 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. Talk about ineptitude.) 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. 174) - 1. They could trade out of the first round and gain a lot by doing so as other teams look to get back into that opening round for a faller. General manager Tom Telesco spoke to the media on Thursday and was asked about Araiza in the draft. 2:39 pm ET, did he lead the nation in punting average, 2023 NFL free agent interior offensive linemen, NFL free agent offensive tackles: Sizing up 2023 market, Free agent WR market: Breaking down available talent, NFL 2023 free agency: Top TEs set to hit open market, NFL 2023 free agency: Top RBs set to hit open market, 'Punt God' Matt Araiza not first punter taken, NFL Combine: QB, WR, TE run 40s, compete in drills, Mock Draft: Panthers, Colts trade up for QBs, Rodgers' trade value, logistics, best fit, Pascal robbed at gunpoint, assaulted; WR 'doing fine', Bryce Young measures similar to former No. Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. 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. No other player this season has two 80+ yard punts. The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. March 25, 2022 5 min read. Of Araiza's 79 punts, 37 went for at least 50 yards; 17 went for 60 yards or more; six went at least 70 yards; and two went for 80-plus yards (no other punter had two punts of 80 yards). The San Diego, California native has a career kicking percentage of over 73% as the Aztecs kicker. Between high school punting and a love of soccer, he developed a powerful leg that has been comfortably the most powerful in college football this last season. Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically . An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. Furthermore, its reported that Araiza routinely makes kicks from 50+ in practice. If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable.. Additionally, few of these punters have been widely recognized as the best at their position, even for one season. SUBSCRIBEto the Vendetta YouTube Channel! Personally, I would not draft a punter, regardless of how good he is, until the 7th-round the 6th-round at the earliest. Together, they were unblockable. Not only did he lead the nation in punting average with an FBS-record 51.4 yards per punt, but he also had six punts of at least 70 yards in 2021, which was the most in the country. Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . Meanwhile, Texas specialist Cameron Dicker has punting and kicking versatility. Dicker The Kicker has a 46.3-yard career punting average and 75.9% career field-goal completion. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . This power was proved in the 2021 season, as he had 18 punts of 60+ yards and two of 80+ yards. Tracker; Grades; Spending; Tenders; Draft. They both feature within draftable range on my recently released 2022 NFL Draft Top 300 Big Board. In 2020, he made 71.4%, and in 2021, hes down to 64.3%. Did I mention that Araiza has a powerful leg? They'll give up some big returns, but they'll also have some giant flips of field position.". 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. 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. P Matt Araiza earned $216,148 in his NFL career. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. Araiza in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt. 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 . Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. 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. In 2021, Araiza has emerged as something of a rockstar in the punting community. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we dont want to see. Mocks. Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so. He created a draft buzz. Of course, there were more rounds and selections back then. Matt Araiza Draft Stock & Draft Projection. Kiper's updated Big Board for the 2022 NFL draft: Ranking the best prospects at every position 1y Mel Kiper Jr. Araiza, who had one year left of eligibility, set the record for punting average in . Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. But, thats not all Araiza can do. Some draft projections have listed Araiza as a potential Day 2 selection, when rounds 2-3 will be conducted. He quantified the athletic ability displayed on punt return coverage with an excellent showing at the NFL Combine. 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. This season, Araiza has set records and social media alight with his left leg cannon. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. Pro Football Network, LLC. Gambling problem? DATABASE. Updated. A minor nitpick in Araizas game is that a quick delivery like his can make it tougher for his teammates to cover significant ground in coverage, but when you factor in how much stronger his leg is than the average punter, it doesnt even matter. There have been multiple third-round selections, while FSU punter John Stark was a second-round choice in 1982. He has a repeatable and pro-ready approach with consistently polished footwork. Born in Nigeria, Ojabo moved to Scotland in 2007 before heading to the US to attend high school. Araiza, one of the Buffalo Bills' sixth round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, boomed a . C.J. Both Stout and Camarda carry draftable grades from NFL scouts. For starters, college football allows for any player to go downfield after the snap on a punt. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we expect. Matt Araiza #19 of the Buffalo Bills takes the field during practice on Aug. 5, 2022, in Orchard Park, New York. While I ordinarily like to steer clear of pro comparisons, there are striking similarities between Stout and four-time first-team All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker. Matt Araiza is currently projected to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. These primarily center around consistency. With his cannon for a leg, positional versatility, and publicity few punters have ever attracted, Araiza has the potential to be selected significantly higher than most punters have in recent NFL Draft classes. Araizas punting style with a nose-down punt leaves improvement for coffin corners. 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. 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. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. These arent just courtesy of a lucky bounce either these punts are traveling through the air. The former San Diego State punter didn't get selected until the Bills made him the first pick of the sixth round (180th overall). Davis was the force behind college footballs most dominant defense last season, fueling a Georgia group that carried their team to the national championship. The [] August 28, 2022 2:44pm. Of course, Ray Guys first-round selection in 1973 is an anomaly. Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. 2023 NFL Draft Top 25 Big Board: Young No. Both are a long shot to be drafted at the end of the month. Indeed, it wouldnt be jaw-dropping to see Araiza a punter! These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? Araiza can take up one spot on a roster, rather than a team having to carry a player at both punter and placekicker. So that builds his value to your team especially if you have an older kicker who now you can take the kickoff duty from.. Araiza also boomed an 86-yard punt last season, which was the longest in college football. 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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Matt Araiza is one of the more fascinating prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft which is saying something, considering he's a punter. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. The big-footed San Diego native is considered one of the best prospects in his position over the years and many are eager to see . The Buffalo Bills had no choice but to cut their youngpunter after so badly botching their response to our claim, Gilleon said in a statement, per the AP. Above is a plot of the average. In 2019, he hit 84.6% of his kicks. His, was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including. He also has the FBS record for 60+ yard punts. 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. @matt_araiza. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. Field Pos. Consistent directional punter that can kick it out to the sidelines or place it inside the 10-yard line. Copyright 2019-2023. Araiza is currently averaging 52.2 yards per punt. 5th Year Option Projections; Free Agency. Camarda has averaged 46.8, 46.6, and 46.7 yards per punt, respectively, over the past three seasons. In Araizas scouting report, we break through the numbers and noise to scrutinize his pro potential ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. Punter. His ceiling could be. Yet, in San Diego State punter Matt Araiza, the 2022 NFL Draft class might possess the most high-profile and highly skilled . However, he set a new single-season program record for field goals with 22. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. All the more impressive, the 2021 season was Araiza's first taking on full-time punting duties for the Aztecs. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will feature as top picks later this month. In fact, there hasnt been an NFL starter in the 21st century built as big as the Aussie. Colorado States Ryan Stonehouse featured just behind Araiza this year, with an average of 50.9 yards per punt. 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.
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