Alex McPherson

Last updated

Alex McPherson
No. 38 – Auburn Tigers
Position Kicker
Class
Redshirt Redshirt.svg
Redshirt
Junior
Personal information
Born (2003-08-29) August 29, 2003 (age 22)
Listed height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight160 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High school Fort Payne
(Fort Payne, Alabama)
College
Stats at ESPN

Alex McPherson (born August 29, 2003) [1] is an American football kicker who plays for the Auburn Tigers.

Contents

High school career

McPherson attended Fort Payne High School in Fort Payne, Alabama. [2] On July 6, 2021 he committed to Auburn University. [3] In October 2021, he broke the Alabama state field goal record for high school with a 61 yard field goal. [4]

College career

2022

McPherson was a redshirt freshman and played four games in 2022 following then-starting kicker Anders Carlson being ruled out for the season with an injury. He made his career debut against Texas A&M, where he attempted three field goals and scored two. [5] His longest field goal of the season was a 51-yard field goal against Western Kentucky. [6]

2023

McPherson played in every game during the 2023 season, without a single missed field goal or extra point. [7] [8] He was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award. [9]

2024

Throughout the 2024 season, McPherson suffered from ulcerative colitis. He played one game, against the Kentucky Wildcats. [10] In December of the same year, he had surgery to remove his large intestine. [11]

2025

In the pre-season, head coach Hugh Freeze expressed positivity that McPherson would be prepared to play in the upcoming season, as he re-gained weight that he lost due to his illness. [12] He was named to the 2025 Lou Groza Award watch list in August. [13] In the first three games of the season, he scored fifteen of fifteen extra points, alongside two field goals. [14] Against the Arkansas Razorbacks, he tied the school record with six made field goals. [15] He finished the season with 20 made field goals. [16]

Career statistics

YearTeamGPField goalsExtra pointsTotal points
FGMFGAFG%LngXPMXPAXP%
2022 Auburn 46785.75199100.027
2023 Auburn 131313100.0534040100.079
2024 Auburn 11250.02733100.06
2025 Auburn 12202387.0493535100.095

Personal life

McPherson's brother is Evan McPherson, a placekicker who has played for the Cincinnati Bengals. [17]

References

  1. ↑ Cole, Adam (October 30, 2025). "How Alex McPherson kept faith through ulcerative colitis battle to return as Auburn kicker". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  2. ↑ Jones, Taylor. "Auburn football 2025 snapshot profile: Alex McPherson". Auburn Wire. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Top Ranked Kicker Alex McPherson Commits to Auburn!". College and Magnolia. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  4. ↑ "WATCH: Alex McPherson makes record-breaking 61-yard field goal". Auburn Wire. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Alex McPherson 2022 Stats per Game". ESPN. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  6. ↑ Elmore, Josiah (July 19, 2023). "Fort Payne native McPherson provides Freeze consistency at the kicker position". CBS 42. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ Hester, A.J. (April 11, 2025). "Auburn Tigers Key Player Returning to Form in 2025". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  8. ↑ Karle, Rick (April 13, 2025). "From 160 to 110 Pounds and back: Auburn kicker's inspiring journey to play football again". AL.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Auburn's Alex McPherson named Groza Award semifinalist". Auburn Tigers. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Auburn football kicker Alex McPherson makes season debut with FG vs. Kentucky". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  11. ↑ Rauterkus, Peter (April 9, 2025). "Alex McPherson details his recovery from illness that sidelined him in 2024". AL.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  12. ↑ Jordan, Phillip. "Auburn's Hugh Freeze shares a positive update regarding Alex McPherson". Auburn Wire. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  13. ↑ Shearer, Jeff (August 5, 2025). "Auburn's McPherson named to Groza Award watch list for 2025 season". Times-Journal. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  14. ↑ Cole, Adam (September 15, 2025). "With FG vs. South Alabama, is Auburn kicker Alex McPherson steadily returning to health?". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  15. ↑ Humphrey III, Jerry (October 25, 2025). "Alex McPherson rebounds with record-tying six field goals in Auburn's victory over Arkansas". AL.com. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  16. ↑ "'The cherry on top': Alex McPherson honored with FWAA Courage Award". Auburn Tigers. December 4, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  17. ↑ Gray, Nick. "Watch Fort Payne's Evan McPherson send Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl with game-winning field goal". The Gadsden Times. Retrieved July 17, 2025.