Why Alex McPherson will break out for Auburn football in 2023

Could Alex McPherson be the breakout freshman special teams performer for Auburn football in 2023?

Joshua Collins | Jun 27, 2023

Why Alex McPherson will break out for Auburn football in 2023 /

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Auburn Tigers

Returning for the last time this preseason to our predictive series of who will be a "break out" performer for Auburn football in 2023, while continuing with our focus on the freshman additions, this time within the special teams, we ask once more: who will be the breakout freshman special teams performer for Auburn football in 2023?

When looking at special teams it is important to remember that there is a lot more going on than just the action of placing a ball upon a tee and kicking off. There is a lot of strategy that goes into the placement of that kick, and the pursuing players that follow after it. With that said, every player who lines up on special teams is there because they have the skills to effectuate the plans the coaching staff has in place, and to do so with speed and efficiency.

Considering that with the conclusion of the 2022 season, the Auburn family saw an end to an almost a decade long kicking era with the departure of Anders Carlson, it seemed fitting to highlight the young man who has won the position for the 2023 season, redshirt freshman Alex McPherson.

Although McPherson is not a part of the 2023 recruiting class, he is a returning redshirt freshman this upcoming 2023 season. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound kicker came to Auburn from Fort Payne, AL by way of Fort Payne High School, where he played both football and soccer. After committing to Auburn on July 6th of 2021, joining the 2022 recruiting class, Alex was able to win the kicking job over both Marshall Meyers and Evan McGuire both sophomores already on the roster.

Evan McPherson in the Iron Bowl. — Jason Homan/ Auburn Daily

McPherson logged stats in three games as a true freshman, putting up six field goals out of seven attempts, earning him an 85.71 FG percentage, hurling a 51-yard field goal as his longest for the 2022 season. This young man looks to be off to an already impressive start as a freshman and looks to have a promising career as an Auburn Tiger. It is for these reasons that I would place my wagers on Alex McPherson being a break out freshman special teams performer for Auburn football during the upcoming 2023 season.

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