[Scouts] see the traits, says Brugler. You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop. Its the most Aztecs drafted since four were taken in 2012. His worse pass-blocking grade came the next week against Towson, registering a 34.3 grade on 26 passing opportunities. Just three years ago, another Aztec tight end with limited production in his collegiate career, Kahale Warring, was drafted by the Houston Texans with the 86th pick (3rd round) in the NFL Draft. Cornerback Tayler Hawkins accepted an invite to the Hula Bowl, which takes place on January 15 in Orlando, FL. 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. 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. That was something I never saw coming. In reality, he is an offensive weapon, the kind that ra-ra football coaches . I have a way bigger fan base because my Moms a teacher in the school district I grew up in. Although the 40-yard-dash may not be a direct indicator of a players game speed, the fact that Araiza ran a 4.68 is notable in its own right. Waring caught 31 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns, almost identical to Bellingers final season. Its not ordinary to find a punter dominating social media and football conversations across the country. 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. 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. ET. + Show More. 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.. 0. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. April 26, 2022 7:52 am MT. Bellingers seasonal production did not overtly scream NFL caliber tight end, finishing 2021 with 31 receptions for 357 yards and only two touchdowns. The Jets and Giants put on quite a show, while a couple of marquee teams raised eyebrows. The reality is that Araiza is one of a kind, hence the nicknames Anomaly and Punt God.. 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. And what's up with the Commanders' value assessment? 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. A legitimate question is: Can Matt Araiza also be selected in the first round? The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. 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. Punter Bryan Anger famously went five picks before Russell Wilson in 2012 with the 70th overall pick. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. More than 300 prospects for the . Hes quick to find the football, and hes always in pursuit mode.. 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. Below are the top 10 highest-drafted punters in the history of the NFL draft: Of that group, Guy went onto become a Pro Football Hall of Famer; Stark was a first-team All Pro selection in 1983 and four-time Pro Bowler; Skladany was a 1981 Pro Bowler; Sauebrun was a four-time All-Pro selection, three-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL punt yards leader; Tupa was a 1999 All-Pro selection; and Anger was a 2021 second-team All-Pro selection, as well as the 2013 NFL punting yards leader. And, thats kind of where the ability with my feet come from.. Apparently, NFL scouts focused their attention on other punters as well. Brugler praised Thomas lateral quickness and constant effort to get to the ball. 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. While a lot of kids growing up dream of playing in the NFL, at that time it wasnt even a consideration for Araiza. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Plus Stetson and Duggan as Pros With Trent Dilfer (Bonus Episode). I thought I was going to play soccer overseas in Europe, he says, so that was the goal for a while., Most kickers and punters specialize in their chosen paths from an early age. Should he be the Mountain West Player of the Year? He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. I know how I did at the Pro Day. After the first game, I was kinda starting to visualize that. It's not clear why Araiza dropped all the way down to the sixth round, but there are plenty of theories. These sites are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with with these teams or institutions. That was a huge honor, Araiza said. 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. Araiza served as SDSU's placekicker while he was in college, so he's never had to hold. He. Broad jump 10 and 1 (or 121). 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. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Defensive end Cameron Thomas was chosen in the third round by Arizona and tight end Daniel Bellinger went in the fourth round to the New York Giants. The San Diego, California native has a career kicking percentage of over 73% as the Aztecs kicker. The Punt God has found a new home. The defense is legitimately good, ranking third in the FBS in yards allowed per play. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State Universitys Matt Araiza. Also, a higher average yards per punt does not always mean better sometimes you want to directionally punt, so this can be misleading. Araizas performances have been record-setting. Theyre three different skills that each require practice, and a human leg can swing only so many times before it gets overworked. San Diego State ranks seventh in overall special teams FEI, which takes into account all aspects of special teams. But the Celtics Brogdon is mounting a well-rounded campaign that hearkens back to some of the earliest Sixth Men. After Stouts selection was announced, an ESPN broadcaster said: Not many things surprise me in the draft because you expect unpredictable things. But whats the legacy of the blockbuster album? I grew up playing three on three on this tiny indoor field, and thats kind of where my love for soccer and sports started. With the 2022 NFL Draft in the books, Adam Schein breaks down what he loved and loathed from the league's Vegas venture. Since NFL defenses vary their fronts constantly, Thomas versatility to play inside or outside will give him a boost to climb teams draft boards. A story of soccer to San Diego, from punter to Punt God. 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. 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! We have a ton of connections and basically a ton of people rooting for me on Saturdays which was really fun.. 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. 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. February 28, 2023 6:16 pm SI NFL Draft Bible. Pro Football Network, LLC. 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. Logically, the first media question to. 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. Is Brad Holmes' enthusiastic drafting paying dividends for the Lions? However, his pass-blocking steadily improved throughout the final ten games of the season, and he finished with a. Leodalis De Vries, the next international star for Padres? 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. The Aztecs are playing for the Mountain West title Saturday and Araiza was going to have a big role again. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? 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. Could Aaron Rodgers help Christian Watson compete for hardware from the jump in Green Bay? I already know Ill be playing one of the those teams (at Baltimore) this upcoming season. Matt Araiza, Punt God of the 2022 NFL Draft, The Ray Guy Award caps off an unprecedented season, Staying at home for college, and making an impact on San Diego, Next Page: From struggles to NFL Draft ascension. The Bills' selection at No. The Punter That Was Promised would be the most valuable player in football by a wide margin. Hes averaging 54.0 yards per punt, which would smash the NCAA and NFL records51.0 in college and 51.4 in the NFL, the latter set by Slingin Sammy Baugh in 1940. The first specialist chosen was LSU kicker Cade York, who went to Cleveland in the fourth round, six picks before Stout was taken. Will Deadly January Car Accident Tank Jalen Carters Draft Stock? The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. It was fun, Araiza grinned while reflecting on the craziness of the past season. Time will tell. In this graphic, there appears to be nearly no association between where a player was selected and his average AV per season. San Diego State punter Matt Araiza is no ordinary prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. But then came the 50-, 60-, 70-. Specialists often aren't taken until. Bellinger recently signed with JB Sports, Inc., the same agency that represents San Francisco 49ers tight end, George Kittle. What was surprising even shocking, to some is that two punters were selected Saturday ahead of Araiza. Araiza could have pursued soccer as a career. 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. A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. r collecting 20.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks this past season. Araiza doesnt just punt, though: He was the Aztecs place kicker before taking on double duty. 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. 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. He's expected to be one of the players chosen in the 2022 NFL draft next month. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his. Its been huge to have that impact on my home town as well. He was named to several First and Second All-American Teams by various national media outlets. Its a loaded defensive end class, Brugler said. The social media explosion, and all the fans, the almost cult-like fans sometimes. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. While Trenton Thompson has not been invited to either of the four end of season all-star bowl games, he will look to impress scouts throughout the draft process, starting with San Diego States pro day, annually held in March. 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? Hes big. Former Eagles President and Browns CEO Joe Banner gave his take on how he would approach this unique prospect. at According to PFF, Araiza had the eighth-lowest kickoff return percentage in the country at less than 15%. Im excited for change. Hed be worthy of going first. Ray Guy, the only punter in the Hall of Fame, was drafted No. This reinforces the significance of gross versus net punting averages. Around 20 minutes north of San Diego State University lies North County Soccer Park. Araiza, a. Did the Packers blow it by once again passing on the receiver position in Round 1? According to Brugler, scouts are not overlooking Bellinger, understanding that the lack of production is more a by-product of the offense San Diego State ran than a lack of talent and ability by Bellinger. For his career, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt. Brugler predicts Bellinger will be the second San Diego State player drafted (after Cameron Thomas). Will Malik Willis develop into a high-end QB for the Titans? Several other three-round mock drafts have slotted Thomas from the first round to not listed. Few could have seen this meteoric rise to success. Bills get the Punt God in the SIXTH ROUND. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/ifbf6FjLa0, Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 30, 2022. 5 or 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which could be the difference between facing a mid-major or power conference opponent, What exactly the Aztecs drew up for Lamont Butler, what got Darrion Trammell going, and keeping an eye on whether Brian Dutchers alma mater needs a new coach, Lamont Butlers 3-pointer at the buzzer beats New Mexico and means the Aztecs can win the Mountain West title outright with one win in their final two games, Everything you need to know about Saturday nights showdown between the Aztecs and Lobos at the Pit in Albuquerque, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. He has 28 punts of 50-plus yards; the NCAA record is 32, set in 1994. Angers cumulative yard per punt average in four years at California was 43.5, including a high of 45.6 in his junior season. But, thats not all Araiza can do. Hes also redefining how valuable punters can really be. Well, that was just a way onto the football roster. MORE:NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. NFL Draft. Patriots coach Bill Belichick famously fetishizes lefty puntershe probably has a hard drive full of Araiza clips lying around his office. Spent pretty much countless hours at that field with my Dad, just practicing all different types of stuff for soccer. Big, big leg. I wonder whether at some point they will simply stand farther back. 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. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Maybe some preferred right-footed kickers over guys like Araiza, a Rancho Bernardo High alum who is left-footed. Stout will likely end up replacing the longtime Ravens punter, who turns 40 in August. When it comes to punters, the bigger surprise is that the Buccaneers took Camarda over Araiza. As mentioned before, Araiza is incredibly versatile and can help the special teams unit in an impactful way. When we spoke on Tuesday night, Araiza called kicking a football really hard the greatest feeling. In addition to punting, he handles placekicking and kickoff duties for San Diego State. I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams.. San Diego State punter and Ray Guy Award winner Matt Araiza announced Tuesday that he will be entering the 2022 NFL draft after putting together one of the best punting seasons in college football . Lets take a look. But thats only half-true: Araiza is also statistically the most talented punter prospect of all time. The draft was held May 3-4, 1979, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York. 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). 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. Middle Tennessee State punter Kyle Ulbrich is . 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. 10-yard split time 1.61 seconds Banners rationale is driven by the notion of replacement value. The 2022 NFL Draft is in the rearview. . 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. . . This might have been due to a tendency by head coach Brady Hoke to put him in aggressive scoring situations, asking Araiza to attempt many tries from 40 yards and beyond in later seasons (he was 3-of-9 from 50+ yards in 2021). Ray Guy is the only punter to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. In 2019, he made 84.6% of his kicks. 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