Column: Aztecs’ Matt Araiza should win the Heisman ... yes, a punter

Sez Me …

The Heisman Trophy is supposed to go to “the most outstanding college football player of the United States.” Says so, right on the ballot.

I used to see that every year, but I stopped voting, giving the Heisman the Heisman after the ridiculous Reggie Bush flap.

And the fact is the award doesn’t always go to the best player.

Let’s never forget quarterback Gino Torretta, not the best player on his Miami team, won it over Marshall Faulk. Marshall made up for it by becoming NFL MVP and entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

But what if it went to “the most dominant college football player of the United States?” Instead of going to a quarterback or running back nearly 100 percent of the time, maybe the most dominant/effective player would be an offensive or defensive lineman, or a linebacker, or a defensive back.

Or perhaps a punter. Punter? Punter!?

Yes.

If this Monday Night Heisman, to be delivered Dec. 6, were awarded to the most dominant player, then it should go to San Diego State punter Matt Araiza.

Because he is.

He leads the nation with an average of 51.47 yards per punt, holds NCAA records for 60-yarders (18) and 50-yarders (38), and has dropped 36 kicks inside the 20.

He doesn’t have a chance to become the fifth San Diego prep to win it. Most voters aren’t paying attention to a punter blasting 80-yarders at midnight back east. Even if they’ve seen him, it’s doubtful they would vote for a kicker, when a QB or tailback from a Power Five school will do — although Matt is more than a punter/kicker (of course he’s not as good as on field goals). He can play.

With a most impressive win Friday vs. Boise State, SDSU has won 11 games, even been ranked in the CFP rankings for the first time, and will host Utah State for the Mountain West championship. And it safely can be said that, given the Aztecs’ season-long scoring problems, there’s no chance they win 11 without the greatest punter in the history of the college game.

He is their best player; their best offensive and defensive player.

His nickname is The Punt God. Is there a Quarterback God? Tailback God?

His first punt vs. Boise traveled 61 yards, but it hit the 5 and bounced back to the 11.

Football was, is and always will be a game of real estate, and Araiza continuously has put the fine Aztecs defense in good field position. It’s hard to do long drives vs. this defense. They are 9-0 when having a field position advantage.

Wonder why?

In 1967, when UCLA’s Gary Beban beat out USC’s O.J.Simpson for the Heisman, the great Jim Murray wrote: “The Heisman Trophy should come with two straws.”

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