AUBURN — While the offense and defense may get significantly more credit, special teams are also important to the success of any football team.
The Auburn Tigers are no exception and are aiming to put an improved group on the field for each special teams unit as well as both sides of the football.
Special teams coordinator Tanner Burns believes that Auburn has the personnel to be effective in that area of the game.
"The better players you have, the easier it is to have success," Burns said. "I just think this time compared to last year, we've got more guys that look like they belong in this league. We've got bigger guys that can run, last year we had little guys that could run but not a lot of size. Bringing in a lot of this young crop as well as transfers, you just feel better about the guys we have compared to the other teams around this league."
One storyline surrounding Auburn's special teams has been the status of kicker Alex McPherson. McPherson is 17-of-19 on field goal attempts during his time with the Tigers, including a career-long of 53 yards. McPherson missed spring practice with an injury and has been limited this summer due to an illness. Burns gave an update on McPherson's recovery.
"He's doing well," Burns said. "Obviously, it's a slow process to get him to where he's at now, but I think he weighs a little bit over 140 (lbs) now, so he's gaining that weight. He's starting to kick, really kind of amped it up this week. He's back to being himself."
Burns talked about the players who have been returning kick-offs and punts.
"We feel way more comfortable than we did probably this time last year about having multiple guys that could go back there," Burns said. "Everybody knows the player Keionte (Scott) is. Some of those young guys will be in the mix. (KeAndre) Lambert-Smith. There is a good crop of guys."
Auburn managed to land a highly rated prospect at kicker in Towns McGough. Burns expressed his gratitude that the Tigers were able to keep McGough, an Auburn native, at home, particularly with McPherson's time estimate being unknown.
"That recruiting process with Towns (McGough) was probably the most dramatic I've seen for any kicker, maybe of all time," Burns said on how hard Auburn had to fight Ole Miss to sign McGough. "We are glad we have him. The goal was to have him sit and redshirt behind McPherson but depending on how quickly McPherson can come back, that may or may not be able to happen."
Auburn begins the season at home against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs on August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. ESPN+/SEC Network+ will carry the broadcast.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.locke@1819news.com.
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