ESPN’s "College GameDay" featured the incredible story of Auburn kicker Alex McPherson on Saturday morning.
The feature began by highlighting McPherson’s mental toughness, which he said is paramount for a kicker to possess, and prepared him for what was to come.
Not many could imagine, or even endure, what McPherson went through. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, the week of Auburn’s bowl game against Maryland and his first year as the Tigers’ starting kicker, McPherson began to feel ill.
“That week, I began to feel sick. I would run to the bathroom 15-20 times a day. I thought I just had the flu or a stomach bug or something going on,” McPherson said. “ My weight was down. I had lost 20 pounds.”
McPherson received treatment during the ongoing months. After a colonoscopy, it was determined that McPherson was dealing with ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the lining of the large intestine.
Due to the severity of the disease, McPherson was admitted to the hospital at the end of July.
“I started throwing up like every day. I had lost 55 pounds at that point; I was 110 pounds when I got admitted into the hospital.
With family members, friends, and the Auburn community worried about McPherson, every day became a tougher challenge.
“Time was running out for something to work,” McPherson’s wife, Hannah, said.
McPherson began to think, “Why me?”
On December 20, 2024, McPherson went in for a 6-hour-long surgery to remove his large intestine. The surgery resulted in an ileostomy, meaning a part of McPherson’s small intestine was outside of his body, and it is connected to an ostomy bag.
One thing loomed large in the mind of McPherson, and that was getting healthy enough to play football again.
McPherson appeared in one game during the 2024 season at Kentucky, where he finished his night by connecting on a 27-yard field goal.
Fast forward to spring ball on the Plains, and McPherson had regained some strength and confidence. He was beginning to connect with the ball like he once could.
However, another setback would rear its ugly head.
During the summer, McPherson’s diagnosis was changed to Crohn’s disease, a disease that affects the entire digestive system.
Though there is no cure, doctors have found a treatment for McPherson.
“It took him about three to four days before he started seeing the effects of it,” said Auburn athletic trainer Robbie Stewart. “But now we’re climbing that mountain again, and we’re getting to the peak again.
Auburn kicked off its season in Waco, Texas, against Baylor on McPherson’s 22nd birthday. It was his first time on the field since his lone debut in Lexington last season.
“It’s hard to describe,” McPherson said. “It’s just a feeling of like ... finally.”
McPherson is still being monitored by Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff to ensure that he feels 100% before pushing his limits. McPherson is yet to miss a kick this season, posting a 4-for-4 mark on field goals with a perfect 15-of-15 showing on PATs.
McPherson will get the chance to help out his Tigers once more on Saturday as they open SEC play against No. 11 Oklahoma in a top-25 showdown.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
