Aztecs’ Matt Araiza is the man, but is he the Guy?

When the legend of Matt Araiza was in its infancy, after he had blasted punts this season of 86 and 81 yards, but before he was nicknamed “The Punt God,” the San Diego State punter was asked what he knew about Ray Guy, the standard by whom all other punters are measured.

“I know he was the reason they started recording hang times,” Araiza said during an interview four games into the season. “He was the one who figured out that could help the team get downfield.”

The name Ray Guy is top of mind this week since Araiza is among three finalists — with Rutgers’ Adam Korsak and Penn State’s Jordan Stout — for the Ray Guy Award that will be presented to the nation’s top punter.

The award is among those that will be announced during Thursday’s Home Depot College Football Awards (4 p.m., ESPN).

Araiza is the first SDSU player to be a finalist for a major award since 2017, when running back Rashaad Penny was a Walter Camp Player of the Year finalist.

If his name is called, Araiza will become SDSU’s first major award winner.

Araiza began booming punts with his strong left leg from the season opener against New Mexico State and now is positioned to set the NCAA single-season record for longest punt average (51.37 yards).

He already has set NCAA records this season for most punts of 50-plus (39) and 60-plus (18) yards and leads the nation with six punts of 70-plus yards.

He was booming punts 70 yards in the air before last week’s game against Utah State.

A 79-yard punt at Hawaii actually flew 84 yards in the air (punts are measured from the line of scrimmage to where are caught or stop rolling).

Eye-popping stuff that has garnered national attention, including an ESPN feature last weekend on “College GameDay.”

Araiza is viewed as the Ray Guy Award favorite in many corners, although criteria for the award makes all three candidates legitimate contenders.

If extra credit was given for knowing about the award’s namesake, then Araiza would be a shoo-in.

Oakland Raiders punter Ray Guy pictured during the 1981 Super Bowl.

(Richard Drew / Associated Press)

Guy, who played collegiately at Southern Mississippi, spent 14 seasons in the NFL. He was a first-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders, who won three Super Bowls with Guy as the team’s punter.

In 2014, Guy became the first pure punter elected to the NFL Hall of Fame.

During his induction speech, Guy said: “Now the Hall of Fame has a complete team.”

Stories about Guy wouldn’t be complete without one about his legendary hang time.

“I do want to say that after one of his punts they immediately took the football and tested it for helium,” Araiza said. “I don’t know if that’s just some tale or something, but I’m pretty sure that actually happened, which is pretty mind blowing.”

The helium legend stems from a 1977 game between the Raiders and Houston Oilers, who were suspicious because of the hang time Guy was getting on his punts.

The Oilers hung onto one of the balls Guy punted to find out if something was up.

“There’s probably nothing to it,” Houston head coach Bum Phillips said, “but we’re going to send the ball to Rice University to have it tested.”

Lab tests proved negative.

(By the way, a 2009 episode of “Mythbusters” included an experiment in which helium-filled balls traveled no greater distance than those inflated with everyday air.)

Araiza said he has done film study of Guy.

“I have watched his videos and watched his technique before,” Araiza said. “I can tell you he was a big believer in the swing being absolutely straight. So for a lefty, your left foot coming up to your left ear, and just absolutely no swipe at all. Which is interesting and something I can take into my game.”

In college in 1972, Guy once kicked a 93-yard punt against Ole Miss. He was also the Southern Miss place-kicker and booted a then-record 61-yard field goal in a snowstorm at Utah.

Guy also was a backup quarterback and his senior season had a school-record eight interceptions as a defensive back.

If that wasn’t enough, Guy pitched on the school’s baseball team, where he threw one of the school’s four no-hitters.

Punting will always be how Guy is best remembered, however.

“I believe he played before the Aussie-style punt,” Araiza said, “so I’m not exactly sure what he would do when he had a short field. Maybe he would just try to pin it out of bounds.

“There’s definitely been advancements in the sport, just like there is in every other sport. ... (But) players like that, they’d be great in whatever time they play in.”

And the winner is ...

The Home Depot College Football Awards show is Thursday at 4 p.m. on ESPN.

The winner of the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation’s top punter, is among those that will be announced during the two-hour program.

SDSU punter Matt Araiza is among three finalists, bidding to become the first player in school history to win a major national award.

Voting panel and criteria: The Ray Guy Award winner is selected by a panel of sports information directors, national media and former Ray Guy Award winners.

According to rayguyaward.com, “punters are evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis is placed on the following statistics; net average, percentage of total punts inside the 20-yard line and percentage of punts not returned.”

A glimpse of the finalists:

Matt Araiza, SDSU

6-foot-2, 200, Jr., San Diego

Stat line: 76 punts for 3,904 yards (51.37-yard average) with a long of 86 yards, 15 touchbacks, 16 fair catches, 36 inside the 20, 39 50-plus-yard punts.

Emphasized statistics: 43.05-yard net average, 64.3 percent of punts inside the 20-yard line and 55.4 percent of punts not returned.

Also notable: His 51.37-yard average is on pace to set the NCAA single-season record held by Texas A&M’s Braden Mann (50.98 in 2018). Has an NCAA record 39 punts of 50-plus yards and 18 punts of 60-plus yards. His 86-yard punt is the longest in the nation this year. Leads the nation with six punts of more than 70 yards.

Adam Korsak, Rutgers

6-foot-2, 180, Sr., Melbourne, Australia

Stat line: 70 punts for 3,215 yards (45.93-yard average) with a long of 74 yards, 0 touchbacks, 28 fair catches, 37 inside the 20, 19 50-plus-yard punts.

Emphasized statistics: 45.33-yard net average, 52.9 percent of punts inside the 20-yard line and 40 percent of punts not returned.

Also notable: Has not had a touchback in 122 consecutive chances dating back to the 2019 finale (21 games), which is the longest active streak nationally. Rutgers leads the nation in net punting and is on pace to break the NCAA single-season record (45.04 set by BYU in 1983).

Jordan Stout, Penn State

6-foot-3, 209, Sr., Cedar Bluff, Va.

Stat line: 62 punts for 2,886 yards (46.55-yard average) with a long of 76 yards, 3 touchbacks, 26 fair catches, 34 inside the 20, 25 50-plus-yard punts.

Emphasized statistics: 45.08-yard net average, 54.8 percent of punts inside the 20-yard line and 46.8 percent of punts not returned.

Also notable: Leads the nation in fewest punt return yards (31). Ranks second in the NCAA behind Korsak in net punt average.