NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- San Diego State football juniors Matt Araiza (San Diego/Rancho Bernardo HS) and Cameron Thomas (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) each have been named Walter Camp All-America selections, the Walter Camp Foundation announced Thursday. A punter, Araiza was named to the first team, while defensive lineman Thomas made the second team.
The nation's oldest college football All-America team, the Walter Camp All-America team started in 1889 and this is the first time the Aztecs have had multiple selections. Araiza is the third SDSU player to earn first-team honors, joining running backs Marshall Faulk (1992 and 1993) and Donnel Pumphrey (2016), while Thomas is the second San Diego State defensive player to make a team along with Luq Barcoo in 2019 (second team). Rashaad Penny is the other Aztec earn Walter Camp All-America status, making the second team as a running back in 2017.
The Walter Camp All-America team is the first of five that comprise the NCAA's consensus All-America team. The rest include the FWAA (Dec. 10), Associated Press (Dec. 13), The Sporting News (Dec. 14) and the AFCA (Dec. 15).
Araiza, who earlier Thursday was named the winner of the Ray Guy Award for the nation's best collegiate punter, has punted 76 times for 3,904 yards, ranking first in FBS history in punt average (51.4 avg.), 60-yard punts (18) and 50-yard punts (39). Out of Araiza's 76 punts, 36 have landed inside the 20-yard line as Araiza has posted a 44.3 net punt average. One of four players in the nation who is handling all three kicking duties (punts, PATs/field goals and kickoffs), Araiza has added 17 field goals, including three 50-plus yarders, and has kicked off 67 times (excluding onside kicks) for a 65.06 average with 56 going for a touchback.
Araiza leads all FBS players in punt average (51.37), total punt yards (3,904) and punt yards per game (300.31), and is tied for first in PAT percentage (100.00), tied for second in punts inside the 20-yard line (36) and total punts (76), third in kickoff average (65.06), tied for fifth in punts per game (5.85), sixth in net punt average (44.28), tied for sixth in field goal attempts (28), eighth in kickoff touchback percentage (83.58), and tied for eighth in kickoff touchbacks (56) and field goal attempts per game (2.08).
Araiza has six punts of at least 70 yards, the most in the country (five are tied for second with two 70-yard punts), including the longest (86 yards), fifth-longest (81, tied), ninth longest (79), 12th longest (77, tied), 17th longest (75, tied) and 28th longest (72, tied).
Araiza has also been named The Action Network's Special Teams Player of the Year, and a first-team All-America selection by The Athletic, ESPN, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, The Action Network and Sports Info Solutions (SIS). Araiza has also been selected as the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, a first-team all-league punter and a second-team kicker.
Thomas, meanwhile, has totaled 68 tackles, while leading the team in tackles for loss (20.5), sacks (11.5) and quarterback hurries (21). The 11.5 sacks this year by Thomas are the sixth most in SDSU single-season history, while his 20.5 tackles for loss are seventh and tied for the most in league history. Among the national leaders, he is third in tackles for loss (20.5), fourth in tackles for loss per game (1.58), tied for sixth in sacks (11.5) and 12th in sacks per game (0.88).
According to Pro Football Focus, Thomas has the fourth-highest defensive grade (90.3, min. 600 snaps) in the country. Thomas also has the most quarterback pressures (sacks/hits/hurries) (77) and hits (21) in FBS, and the sixth-most hurries (44).
Thomas has also been named a first-team All-America pick by The Athletic and Sports Info Solutions (SIS), as well as the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-league selection for a third straight year.
The Walter Camp All-Americans will be recognized at the Foundation's annual awards weekend, which will be held Feb. 25-26 in New Haven, Conn.
San Diego State (11-2), which has tied a school record with 11 victories this season and was 24th in the final College Football Playoff Rankings, plays No. 24 (AP) UTSA (12-1) in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 21 in Frisco, Texas.
SDSU All-Time Walter Camp Americans
1992 - 1st team - Marshall Faulk, RB
1993 - 1st team - Marshall Faulk, RB
2016 - 1st team - Donnel Pumphrey, RB
2017 - 2nd team - Rashaad Penny, RB
2019 - 2nd team - Luq Barcoo, DB
2021 - 1st team - Matt Araiza, P
2021 - 2nd team - Cameron Thomas, DL
SDSU's All-America Selections (Recognized by the NCAA)
Walter Camp (Dec. 9): Matt Araiza (1st team), Cameron Thomas (2nd team)
FWAA (Dec. 10): TBA
Associated Press (Dec. 13): TBA
The Sporting News (Dec. 14): TBA
AFCA (Dec. 15): TBA
Araiza and Thomas Named Walter Camp All-Americans
