Auburn Tigers
· 2026-07-09
Auburn Tigers kicker Alex McPherson enters the 2026 season as a senior after battling back from a serious gastrointestinal disease that cost him nearly all of 2024. He'll be a key weapon when Auburn opens against the Baylor Bears on September 5.
McPherson is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior from Fort Payne, Alabama. He was a three-star recruit in the 2022 class, ranked the No. 2 kicker nationally and No. 93 overall in the state.
He chose Auburn over Florida and Texas A&M. His brother, Evan McPherson, kicks for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL.
Before the 2024 season, McPherson was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal disease. He lost over 50 pounds and missed all but one game that year.
He worked his way back for 2025. That season he went perfect on extra points and hit 20 of 23 field goals, with a long of 49 yards against Mercer.
At A-Day in April, McPherson connected on two field goals. His longest was from 55 yards out.
That's a good sign. His recovery appears to be behind him now.
McPherson's Pro Football Focus grades show his arc: 80.8 as a freshman in 2022, then 88.4 in 2023 when he was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and made All-SEC Freshman. He dropped to 59.8 in 2024 due to illness, then bounced back to 83.8 in 2025.
His strengths are clear. In 2025 he was 35-for-35 on extra points, 9-for-9 on field goals from 20-29 yards, and 11-for-13 from 30-49 yards.
Auburn's next game is against the Baylor Bears on September 5. McPherson will be the Tigers' primary kicker.
If he stays healthy, he could match his 2023 form. That season he was perfect on extra points and field goals, with a personal-best 53-yard field goal.
McPherson has one more year to leave his mark at Auburn. The Tigers will need his leg in close SEC games.