AUGUSTA, Ga. -- San Diego State football's Matt Araiza (San Diego/Rancho Bernardo HS) has been named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, the Augusta Sports Council announced Wednesday. The award is given annually to the nation's best collegiate punter.
Araiza is one of 10 semifinalists for the award and one of just three from a Group of 5 program. The finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 23.
It is another 2021 accolade for Araiza, who was named to four midseason All-America teams, including three on first teams (AP, ESPN and Sporting News) and one on the second team (The Athletic), and has been named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week three times.
On the season, Araiza has punted 56 times for 2,909 yards (51.9 avg.) with 30 of at least 50 yards, 29 inside the 20, 15 fair catches and a long of 86 yards. Araiza has also made all 30 of his PATs and is 10-for-16 in field goal attempts with three 50-yarders. Additionally, he has kicked off 47 times for 2,987 yards and a 64.9 average (perfect is 65.0) along with 35 touchbacks.
Araiza leads all FBS players in punt average (51.95), punt yards per game (323.22) and punt yards (2,909), and is tied for first in punts inside the 20-yard line (29, 1st in MW) and PAT percentage (1.000, T-1st in MW), third in net punt average (44.93, 1st in MW), fourth in kickoff average (64.93, 1st in MW), tied for fifth in punts per game (6.22, 2nd in MW), seventh in total punts (56, 2nd in MW), 11th in kickoff touchback percentage (82.61, 1st in MW) and tied for 16th in kickoff touchbacks (38, 2nd in MW). Araiza is also fifth in the MW in field goal attempts (16, T-27th in FBS), made PATs (30, T-48th in FBS), kickoff yards (2,987, 53rd in FBS), attempted PATs (30, T-54th in FBS) and total kickoffs (46, T-57th in FBS), sixth in kicking points (60, T-56th in FBS), tied for seventh in field goals made per game (1.11, T-57th in FBS) and points per game (6.67), tied for eighth in made field goals (10, T-55th in FBS) and total points (60).
Araiza's 51.95 punt average is the best in FBS history and almost a yard longer than Texas A&M's Braden Mann in 2018 (50.98). Araiza's 70-plus-yard punts and FBS ranks are 86 yards (1st), 81 yards (T-5th), 79 yards (9th), 77 yards (T-11th), 75 yards (T-16th) and 72 yards (T-22nd). His six punts of at least 70 yards, the most in the country (three are tied for second with two 70-yard punts).
The No. 22 Aztecs are 8-1, matching their best nine-game start in the last 51 seasons.
San Diego State welcomes Nevada at 7:30 p.m. PT Saturday for Homecoming at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Matt Araiza Named a Ray Guy Award Semifinalist
