Famous Journalists Without Degrees, Johanna Ortiz Size Guide, Articles M

Not too shabby. Can he shuffle his size-18 feet quickly enough to keep up with Von Miller off the edge? Meanwhile, he averaged 41.7 yards on 120 punts that tallied over 5,000 yards. The relationship is not close to being statistically significant here, and the R-squared value is almost negligible. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. 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. Mock Draft Database Sites; NFL NBA NHL MLB. Matt Araiza, San Diego State P | NFL Draft Scouting Report (2023) Two NFL teams had Matt Araiza red flags before draft. That group includes not only several picks taken inside the top 100 overall players, but also four players taken in the second round and another two taken in the first round. Hutchinson was an effort player; Ojabo the beat-them-out-of-their-cleats, vintage, get-off-and-go rusher. In the first of these predictions pieces, Matt Araiza leads a cast of at least three punters selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, he set a new single-season program record for field goals with 22. But there are tantalising stories further down the board. Matt Araiza's rape accuser speaks out: "I had no idea who Matt Araiza The Punt God is averaging far more yards per punt than Anger did his senior year. Mock drafts will dance around the internet for the next two months they've already started and in a cozy 5th-Round spot nestled will be the name Matt Araiza because every team should want a glimpse of the field-position machete.. And if Araiza's draft stock remains at the 5th Round or lower . Showcasing an exceptionally powerful leg, he holds the Penn State field-goal record with a 57-yard strike against Pitt in 2019. The likes of Mitch Wishnowsky and Max Duffy from recent draft classes utilized this style of punting before entering the NFL. For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. In this graphic, there appears to be nearly no association between where a player was selected and his average AV per season. 2022 NFL Draft: Matt "Punt God" Araiza Scouting Report The team admits learning about the allegation in July. Shakir, a fifth-round rookie in 2022, got off to a slow start in his career. 174) - 1. Faalele is from Melbourne, and an assistant coach for Hawaii on a scouting trip to Australia discovered him while he was rehabbing an injury at a local gym. Mocks. Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. The injury has continued to plague his career, forcing further surgeries in 2020 and 2021. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Araiza, who was released by the Bills on Saturday, was accused of being involved in the gang rape of a 17-year-old, with details coming to light after a lawsuit was filed in San Diego County Superior Court accusing Araiza and two of his teammates at San Diego State. But, thats not all Araiza can do. The reigning Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's top punter, Araiza set an FBS record with a 51.19-yard . Redshirting his 2018 season, Araiza learned under San Diego State kicker John Barron II. According to the Associated Press, executives from two different NFL teams became aware that Araiza had been involved in an incident in the lead-up to the draft, though they didnt know the extent of the allegations. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State University's Matt Araiza. The Bills may not have knownaboutthe allegations hanging over punter Matt Araiza when they drafted him, but at least two other teams had an inkling that something had happened. Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. The term generational talent is incredibly cliche and should be avoided more often than not, as hyperbolic analysts can throw it around to simply describe prospects who are very good, regardless of whether theyre far and away better than other players at their position over the last few decades. Based on Over The Cap's projections, . 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. The WCG crew ran through several free agency questions in this roundtable, and today we listed the one signing we expect Ryan Poles to make. Of course he was. The left-footer with the big leg has been widely projected by draft analysts as the top . DATABASE. Ethan Sears. San Diego State wasnt prepared for this 10-man rush of the punter, but that didnt matter to Araiza. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images) 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. Throughout his time as an Aztec, Araiza also successfully . These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? They both feature within draftable range on my recently released 2022 NFL Draft Top 300 Big Board. Versatility, athleticism, and competitive toughness, Tony Paulines scouting report for Matt Araiza. Although Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. 2022 NFL Draft shocker: Bills land 'Punt God' Matt Araiza who This next punt traveled 88 yards through the air, landing from his own 12-yard line to the literal goal line. No charges filed against Matt Araiza, ex-teammates in SDSU gang rape case Araizas game against UNLV gave the football world its first glimpse of him as a punter, nailing 4 of 5 punts over 50 yards. NFL Draft: 6 Former Aztecs Among Hopefuls Vying for a Place in the Pros Troy . 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 . . Additionally, few of these punters have been widely recognized as the best at their position, even for one season. Of course, Davis didnt need to play third downs at Georgia because the damage was already done on the first two downs. According to NYup.com, Moulds shared a video of Shakir working out with him. Consistent directional punter that can kick it out to the sidelines or place it inside the 10-yard line. Together, they were unblockable. There have only been 10 punts of 80 yards in the entirety of college football this century. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. Punter Bryan Anger famously went five picks before Russell Wilson in 2012 with the 70th overall pick. ), wins college football weekend, deserves the Heisman . Could Matt Araiza be the next one? Should the LA Chargers draft punter Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft? 2022 NFL Draft: Profiles for 20 potential LA Rams picks on Day 3 Matt Araiza is currently projected to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. This is what enablers do.. All 2022 NFL Draft Projections are taken from the latest Sporting News NFL Mock Draft by Vinnie Iyer. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. Although Araizas leg strength is the crown jewel of his scouting report, there are times when hell need to take a little off his punts to achieve success at the next level. Hang time and accuracy are just as important in the NFL. In 2020, he made 71.4%, and in 2021, hes down to 64.3%. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Araiza. He only makes two steps upon catching the ball, as opposed to a running start that some college punters use. Matt Araiza draft projection. 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. If a team is uncomfortable with your holding skills, that could absolutely lead you to dropping in the draft. For starters, college football allows for any player to go downfield after the snap on a punt. His ceiling could be much higher. In 'Punt God' Matt Araiza, Bills getting a promising prospect, but far Manage Settings With his all-around contributions, Stout truly puts the special in special teams. Davis was the force behind college footballs most dominant defense last season, fueling a Georgia group that carried their team to the national championship. Khalil Shakir working out with former Bills WR Eric Moulds Its time to look at five of the upcoming classs most intriguing (rather than the best) prospects. A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. The Buffalo Bills have claimed they did not know about allegations recently made in a lawsuit against former punter Matt Araiza prior to the 2022 NFL draft. Matt Araiza: Did get drafted| NFL Draft| Parents| Highlights In yesterdays game, Matt Araiza elevated his NCAA record with his 16th punt of 60+ yards this year. @matt_araiza. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. That includes CBSSports.com, which lists Araiza as the 126th prospect in the draft. On his list of the top 150 prospects on NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah listed Araiza at No. But that style is outdated in the modern NFL, where the last remaining stick-slide-climb thrower is the ever-ageless Tom Brady. He also set school records in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles during his high school career. 2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three 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. # . Lawyer: Matt Araiza & Bills knew nothing of allegations before Draft Day All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. As a FG kicker, his completion percentage has declined with every college season. Araiza is currently averaging 52.2 yards per punt. 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. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. The only question now is whether the franchise that selects him is stocked up on enough XXXXXXXXL gear. 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. Although he was the top punting prospect in the draft, Araiza ended up being the third punter selected. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we expect. However, that doesnt mean that his scouting report doesnt reveal some areas for improvement. 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. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. And no, thats not the type of gimmicky love youll see bestowed on some other athletes in minor roles. I am sure he is very upset and disappointed that his career with the Bills ended not because he played poorly but because of false allegations leveled against him by a young lady and her attorney, Araizas lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, told the AP. (AV) of a punter per season who has been drafted in the last 15 seasons. 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. Field Pos. The San Diego State punter has a career-long 53-yard field goal to his name. If that seems confusing/odd/laughable (delete as applicable), think about this: In 2021 he hit 18 punts of 60-plus yards and a pair of 80-plus yarders. The following is a complete Matt Araiza NFL Draft profile, including stats, highlights and a mock projection. The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. 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. 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. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. 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 . All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. As a San Diego native, there was naturally just one choice. In addition to his prowess as a punter, Araiza has a 73.5% success rate as a field-goal kicker. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process.