Together, they were unblockable. The biggest thing to note from the preseason is Epenesa. Where most people have legs attached to their torso, Araiza has an actual cannon. Safely draftable and carrying middle-round grades in the league.. 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 . 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. He followed that up with a Thanos-like performance at the scouting combine: the 341 lb Davis ran the 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds, the fastest for any player over 330 lb at the combine since 2006; Davis later had a standing broad jump of 10ft 3in, the record for a player over 300 pounds; he tacked on a 34in vertical leap for good measure, a doubletake-worthy figure for someone of his size. 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. The relationship is not close to being statistically significant here, and the R-squared value is almost negligible. 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. Thanks for contacting us. Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. FILE - San Diego State's Matt Araiza (2) celebrates his field goal against . ), wins college football weekend, deserves the Heisman . Araizas punting style with a nose-down punt leaves improvement for coffin corners. No other punter in history has more 50+ and 60+ yard punts in a single season. T Formation Conversation: Live from the NFL Combine. All Rights Reserved. But there can be no doubt that in a jumbled quarterback class, taking a punt on the best pure thrower would represent the best value play for quarterback-needy franchises. The. The temptation to declare it the greatest punting class of all time is understandable. Araiza denied the allegations in a statement released by his agent on Friday, but has not spoken publicly himself. And no, thats not the type of gimmicky love youll see bestowed on some other athletes in minor roles. 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. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. The former San Diego State punter didn't get selected until the Bills made him the first pick of the sixth round (180th overall). The LA Chargers have 11 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft and there is a chance that the team could draft San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. They ignored us, [when] I warned them [what] would happen could be avoided if they just kept their heads in the sand. Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically . Fewer punters have been more consistent than the Georgia prospect. The Bills may not have known about the allegations hanging over punter Matt Araiza when they . 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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 what enablers do.. Araizas game against UNLV gave the football world its first glimpse of him as a punter, nailing 4 of 5 punts over 50 yards. Being a left-footed punter, teams will have to adjust their formations to help fit his needs. Here are the San Diego State Aztecs headed for the 2022 NFL Draft, from Cameron Thomas to Matt Araiza. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. But now Araiza is gone, released Saturday afternoon, and with the preseason games over, the Bills have to trim . The buzz over this punting class begins with Araiza. The coach offered Faalele a scholarship on the spot. The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. Pro football is a game of land acquisition, played four downs at a time. Matt Araiza is one of the only players in the 2022 NFL Draft who can make an immediate impact. Matt Araiza is the greatest collegiate punter I have ever watched. In fact, there hasnt been an NFL starter in the 21st century built as big as the Aussie. At 6ft 9in (!) According to NYup.com, Moulds shared a video of Shakir working out with him. Just the 270th-ranked player in California and 2,609th nationally, Araiza held only three offers, with San Diego State winning out over UMass and FCS-level Montana. Win at all costs happens with every team. In Araizas scouting report, we break through the numbers and noise to scrutinize his pro potential ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. San Diego State's Matt Araiza, meanwhile, might have the strongest leg in the draft. For starters, college football allows for any player to go downfield after the snap on a punt. All Rights Reserved. Does a terrific job selling fake punts. Although he didnt participate in any all-star games, Araizas ascension has continued through the pre-draft process. Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. 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. His footprints adorn the record books at the position. Just the 270th-ranked player in California and 2,609th nationally, Araiza held only three offers, with San Diego State winning out over UMass and FCS-level Montana. San Diego State. 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. However, that doesnt mean that his scouting report doesnt reveal some areas for improvement. DBs and Specialists. The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. Do you mind if I try playing football?. They also dont currently have a fourth-round pick, barring some wheeling and dealing on Draft Day. Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. Although Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. FREE Boxing fight stream. Araiza joined the NFL in April as a sixth-round draft pick. Born in Nigeria, Ojabo moved to Scotland in 2007 before heading to the US to attend high school. Araiza leads the punter predictions for this 2022 NFL Draft. Araiza must ensure that his strides and ball striking remain consistent from kick to kick. 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. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. Obviously, the ability to pin your opponent deep in their own territory represents a significant advantage. Meanwhile, he averaged 41.7 yards on 120 punts that tallied over 5,000 yards. He was a sixth-round pick of the team at the 2022 NFL draft. My names David Ojabo. The fact that Araiza can punt, take field goals, and act as the kickoff man for a team is a crucial element of his scouting report. All 2022 NFL Draft Projections are taken from the latest Sporting News NFL Mock Draft by Vinnie Iyer. Kenny Pickett College Football Highlights 2021, Aaron Rodgers is Using Leverage to Help Davante Adams, DEBUT Tom Brady, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen! He also set school records in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles during his high school career. Talk about ineptitude.) 1. player. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Despite those struggles,Araizas game against UNLV gave the football world its first glimpse of him as a punter, nailing 4 of 5 punts over 50 yards. This season Araiza hasnt had a single kick punt or field goal blocked. It can bail out a sloppy offensive possession by turning it into a healthy defensive position. Continue with Recommended Cookies, (Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State Athletics). Versatility, athleticism, and competitive toughness, Tony Paulines scouting report for Matt Araiza. 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. Chatter among leaky scouts has suggested that Faalele may be too big to play tackle in the league, that he will struggle to dip and sink to wall off the leagues premier dip-and-rip pass-rushers. Finally, Araiza has shown toughness and athletic ability during his time at San Diego State. The whole nfl knew. Odds & lines subject to change. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Based on Over The Cap's projections, . Matt Araiza is currently projected to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. In addition to his prowess as a punter, Araiza has a 73.5% success rate as a field-goal kicker. 201. MORE:NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. The roster has been set for awhile in the defensive trenches. That was surprising.. Specialists don't often get drafted, but with Araiza being able to flip the field so easily (he has had punts go over 80 yards), an NFL team will likely draft him earlier than fans expect. I didnt know what a first down was or anything, Faalele told ESPN in 2018. He also set the FBS mark for 50-yard punts with his 33rd of the season. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, it's time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. Despite that, things haven't really changed from out first look at it. 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. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. However, he set a new single-season program record for field goals with 22. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will feature as top picks later this month. The Punt God has a legitimate shot at being a day two selection. With the 175th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. 174. He played fewer than half of Georgias defensive snaps in 2021 and played only 18% of third-down snaps. In a sign of things to come at the collegiate level, his 37 career field goals set a San Diego Section record. Consistency, then Penn State punter Jordan Stout should be called Mr. The team admits learning about the allegation in July. More important than the distance is Araizas unusual control of the ball, allowing him to pin opposing offenses deep in their own half rather than just booming the ball out the back of the endzone. In the first of these predictions pieces, Matt Araiza leads a cast of at least three punters selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Corey Bojorquez has also shown inconsistency. But there are questions about Davis viability at the NFL level. Could Matt Araiza be the next one? Talk about ineptitude.) August 28, 2022 2:44pm. He isnt a novelty: hes an assured pass protector who has the huge frame that could make him special. Above is a plot of the average. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . Despite those struggles. 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 | Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego State product became well known for booming punts 80 yards and averaging an NCAA-record 51.19 yards . https://t.co/mIr2tYt8LT. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. Shakir, a fifth-round rookie in 2022, got off to a slow start in his career. Predicting Four 2023 Middle Linebacker Free Agent Destinations The 2023 NFL offseason should be stacked, Von Miller Eyeing GM Career Post Retirement NFL legend and current Buffalo Bills Edge rusher, Former OSU quarterback C.J. The San Diego State punter set a 4.68-second 40-yard dash while registering a 101 broad and 32 vertical jump. Both are a long shot to be drafted at the end of the month. Matt Araiza was selected in the sixth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. That says two things in particular: one, that I am a sad enough person to have scouted dozens of punters, and two, that Araiza is a special talent at his position. The San Diego State redshirt junior did so by setting an NCAA record with 36 punts of . But why wasnt he on the field for Georgia on third down? a general manager told NBCs Peter King at the combine. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. Araiza's controversial stay in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills is well noted. This reinforces the significance of gross versus net punting averages. Matt Araiza, better known as "Punt God", played for the San Diego State Aztecs for a total of three seasons between 2019 and 2021. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. The NFL Draft doesn't usually surprise us much when it comes to punting, but on Saturday it came with two big surprises. 147, a high fifth-round pick. Punts in between the 30s (2021 only):Jordan Stout, Penn State (36 Punts)Inside 20 83%Inside 10 53%Touchback 6%Average Field Pos. 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. He maintained composure in a penetrated backfield, and he was able to send the ball 65 yards through the air with ease. He created a draft buzz. holy crap.you know what I just realized? His 32 vertical jump was the same as Chris Olave, our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. Certainly, the conversation around Araiza as a potential Day 2 prospect fuels that narrative. If we include the multi-faceted Travon Walker in the discussion, he may wind up being the third defensive lineman taken from Georgias all-world defensive front. You must be logged in to post a comment Think thats an exaggeration? 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 . Special teamers are usually able to be secured as an undrafted free agent or in Round 7, but an elite punting prospect like Araiza who can flip field position at an incredible rate is worth that investment. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we dont want to see. Indeed, it wouldnt be jaw-dropping to see Araiza a punter! Ojabo is now anticipated to go in the late stages of the first round, though he could fall further if teams fear that some of the first-step quickness that made him such a tantalizing prospect has been sapped by the injury. Araiza also succeeds as a kickoff specialist, recording 62 touchbacks on 73 attempts. This versatility only adds to his value heading into the NFL Draft since he can be the kickoff specialist as well as fill in as an emergency kicker should the starter suffer an injury during a game. The 2022 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 28th. Do It All. During a college career that started at Virginia Tech before his transfer to the Nittany Lions, Stout has been a kickoff specialist, punter, field-goal and extra-point kicker, and even turned his hand to playing quarterback on a fake punt against Michigan in his final season. Punt God. Pro Football Network, LLC. The redshirt freshman hit 85% of his field goals, nailed every extra point attempt, and smashed 78% of his kickoffs through the back of the end zone. Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. Punter. For this reason, I believe its time for me to do something Ive only done once before: a special teamer breakdown. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. "He was like, 'You're outkicking your coverage. Look how Hawaii prepped for Matt Araiza. Hes not just the last line of defense, either. Updated. and that Bill Belichick is already salivating over using a second-round pick on him in the 2022 NFL Draft. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. Araiza may be the greatest college punter of all time. They both feature within draftable range on my recently released 2022 NFL Draft Top 300 Big Board. NFL Draft: Meet Matt Araiza, Punt God His booming kicks made fourth-and-long must-watch TV at San Diego State. All Rights Reserved. . He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. Every coach will want to do their due diligence as far as timing his touch to toe operation and seeing how he does with a real NFL Duke ball. Showcasing an exceptionally powerful leg, he holds the Penn State field-goal record with a 57-yard strike against Pitt in 2019. No wonder the "punt god" is generating NFL draft buzz. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. The only question now is whether the franchise that selects him is stocked up on enough XXXXXXXXL gear. 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. Araiza is currently averaging 52.2 yards per punt. The Buffalo Bills are going to have a tough decision to make. Araiza, nicknamed the "Punt God," was a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Ray Guy Award in 2021. Some national NFL Draft analysts with NFL information have openly stated that he might be selected on Day 2. Matt Araiza'The Weapon' Ready to Destroy Your Perception of an NFL Punter. The San Diego State punter has a career-long 53-yard field goal to his name. Theres simply no escaping it. For the . Vendetta Sports Media is sponsored by Monkey Knife Fight, the fastest growing DFS site in the industry. Of course, Ray Guys first-round selection in 1973 is an anomaly. 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. Using AV from Pro-Football-Reference, this somewhat normalizes the impact of a punter on his team. With his record-breaking antics and social media ascension to Punt God, San Diego State punter Matt Araiza is making special teams sexy again. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. 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. For his career, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt. A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. NFL Draft Provile. Meanwhile, Texas specialist Cameron Dicker has punting and kicking versatility. But, thats not all Araiza can do. Some collegiate punters especially Australian punters with Aussie rule backgrounds work out of a rugby-style delivery, which includes wider splits between blockers and a running approach from the punter before kicking it low with the intention of having it bounce and be difficult for returners to field. By. Before we produce the punting protagonists of this 2022 NFL Draft prediction, its worth discussing the place this class could hold in NFL history. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. 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. 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. As a San Diego native, there was naturally just one choice. Araiza seems like he's going to be a good fit in Buffalo. 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. Twenty-nine percent of his punts went for touchbacks. He probably wont be the first defensive lineman selected from his own team. PFN Draft Profile. Matt Araiza 2022 NFL Draft Profile. P Matt Araiza earned $216,148 in his NFL career. NFL MOCK DRAFT. Bills get the Punt God in the SIXTH ROUND. However, 17 punters have actually been selected on what we would now call Day 2 of the NFL 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). 17 for the first round of the 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. Field Pos. Multiple punters selected in the draft are also not as rare as youd think. 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. Consistent directional punter that can kick it out to the sidelines or place it inside the 10-yard line. @matt_araiza. DATABASE. Both Stout and Camarda carry draftable grades from NFL scouts. Brewer. The San Diego, California native has a career kicking percentage of over 73% as the Aztecs kicker. The 2022 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 28th. 31, the Cincinnati Bengals sit in one of the most interesting spots of any team in the 2022 NFL draft. Hes unlikely to be the first defensive lineman off the board. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. Whoever drafts him could be ending up with a perennial All-Pro talent. Thats what teams are still trying to figure out. This power was proved in the 2021 season, as he had 18 punts of 60+ yards and two of 80+ yards. 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. Used as a field-goal kicker for San Diego State and shows the ability to hit them from long distance. March 25, 2022 5 min read. It is not a good look for a franchise that prides itself on culture and character. If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. General manager Tom Telesco spoke to the media on Thursday and was asked about Araiza in the draft. His ceiling could be. Our written profile to add to our NIL Apparel and Podcast Interview of College Football's #1 Punter #sdsu #NFLDraft. Despite Araiza's incredible 2021 season, he is not expected to be among the highest-drafted punters of all time. No punter has been selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft since 1995. Bills rookie punter Matt Araiza, who has quickly risen to fame with a strong leg and a catchy nickname, faces a very serious off-field issue before his first NFL game.According to the Los Angeles . They call him Punt God. Before you scoff at this notion and dismiss it based on the allegation that Reeder is a "terrible" NFL player who wasn't even drafted, let's look at how the 2 players measure up. Camarda has averaged 46.8, 46.6, and 46.7 yards per punt, respectively, over the past three seasons. He reportedly said, "Bills Mafia, there is no off-season.". After hitting an 86-yard punt against Hawaii, Araiza has become something of a social media starlet, earning the nickname Punt God.. 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. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. In the rare occurrence that one of his kicks is returned, Araiza can be found taking down the returner. He gets the ball off quickly and generates an insane amount of force from his left leg. During his three-year stint as the starter for Rancho Bernardo, Araiza boomed a 71-yard long punt. The previous year, he punted five times for 249 yards, averaging 49.8 yards per punt. The first two punters went off the board in the fourth round with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout and the Buccaneers taking Jake Camarda. As mentioned before, Araiza is incredibly versatile and can help the special teams unit in an impactful way. He has the power to flip the field with one kick. Can he shuffle his size-18 feet quickly enough to keep up with Von Miller off the edge? Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. The victims lawyer, Dan Gilleon, said the Bills also ignored his warnings about Araiza in late July. So that builds his value to your team especially if you have an older kicker who now you can take the kickoff duty from.. Many even called him the 'Punt God.' His 51.2 yards per punt is the most in a single season by any college punter in the history of the sport. DB/Specialist Pre-Draft Notes (2022 NFL Draft) by Shane Hallam April 21, 2022 0 520. 1 CB, Paul Burmeister: Why Derek Carr Might Not Be QB to Win You a Championship, Tracker: Patriots Release QB Hoyer. In 2021, Araiza has emerged as something of a rockstar in the punting community. | NFL All Day Pack Opening, Jimbo Fisher Isnt Leaving Texas A&M Football, New Texas State Football Coach Wont Last Long, Best PrizePicks College Football DFS Picks and Player Props for CFP National Championship, TCU vs Georgia Prediction, Odds and College Football National Championship Betting Picks, Marcus Jones Draft Profile: Stats, Highlights and 2022 NFL Draft Projection, Cameron Dicker Draft Profile: Stats, Highlights and 2022 NFL Draft Projection, How To Watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury In Canada, Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury LIVE! . In 2021, the Bills only punted a total of 52 times, which was tied for the fifth-lowest total in the NFL. Landing both prospects would fill position needs, but that's a dream scenario because Gardner will likely be long gone if the Chargers decide to stay at No.
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