Buffalo Bills punter Matt Ariaza aka ‘Punt God’ has been named in a civil lawsuit which also includes three other San Diego State football players of gang raping a 17-year-old girl last year at an off-campus party.
The lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, alleges the then-high school senior was in and out of consciousness but remembers moments as the three men took turns assaulting her.
The other men named in the lawsuit are Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko. Leonard is listed on the university’s football roster as a redshirt freshman while Ewaliko was on the team last year as a freshman but is not on the current roster:
Araiza’s lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, said he hasn’t reviewed the complaint. He did, however, call the rape accusation false.
“It’s a shakedown because he’s now with the Buffalo Bills,” Armstrong said, via the Los Angeles Times. “There is no doubt in my mind that Matt Araiza ever raped that girl.”
No arrests have been made and San Diego police have not publicly identified any suspects. Detectives recently submitted their investigation to the San Diego County district attorney’s office to determine whether charges should be filed.
Araiza won the starting job in Buffalo after an impressive preseason. He had an 82-yard punt earlier this month.
It’s unclear if this lawsuit will affect Araiza’s status for the regular season.
