Posted September 16, 2025
College football thrives on big plays, bigger athletes, and moments designed for highlight reels. But sometimes, the biggest story doesn’t make SportsCenter. Sometimes it isn’t about a 300-pound lineman or a five-star recruit. Sometimes, it’s about a young man who has fought battles far greater than anything that happens between the sidelines. On Friday night in Waco, Texas, as Auburn defeated Baylor 38–24, that young man was Auburn kicker Alex McPherson.
Two nights ago, Alex turned 22. While most college students might celebrate with cake, friends, or a night out, Alex gave himself a different kind of birthday present: he suited up, took the field, and scored eight points for the Tigers—drilling a field goal and going five-for-five on extra points. For any kicker, that’s a solid night. For Alex, it was a triumph, the culmination of a journey marked by pain, surgery, and uncertainty.
McPherson, from Fort Payne, Alabama, is no stranger to football bloodlines. He is part of the well-known McPherson Kicking family, a name synonymous with precision and reliability. In 2023, he was nothing short of flawless, not missing a single kick all season. His accuracy, calm demeanor, and raw talent made him a rising star at Auburn.
But 2024 changed everything. Alex was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic illness that inflames the digestive tract and wreaks havoc on the body. By July of that year, his weight had dropped to just 110 pounds—alarmingly low for anyone, let alone a college athlete. Pictures from that summer show a young man gaunt and frail, a stark contrast to the vibrant kicker fans had come to know. Doctors questioned not only his football future but his health and quality of life.
In December, he underwent surgery to remove his colon. For most, such a life-altering procedure would have been the end of a football career. But Alex isn’t most people. Through grueling months of rehab, workouts, and medical management, he fought his way back. With the support of Auburn’s medical team, athletic trainers, and his family, he worked to rebuild his strength, regain weight, and prepare for another shot at the game he loved.
The summer of 2025 was supposed to be his turning point. Yet, just weeks before the season, new complications surfaced. He began losing weight again, and more ulcers were discovered. Once more, his future seemed fragile. But Alex responded the same way he always had: with resilience. He leaned on his faith, his medical team, his coaches, and his own sheer determination. He refused to let his illness define him.
That’s what made Friday night so special. Under the stadium lights, wearing Auburn’s colors, Alex McPherson wasn’t just another kicker. He was a symbol of grit. With his kicking tee tucked into his equipment bag and his 155-pound frame standing against defenders twice his size, he showed what courage looks like in cleats. Every point he scored wasn’t just for Auburn’s scoreboard—it was proof that he had beaten back the doubts, the weakness, and the disease that tried to sideline him.
And he did it on his birthday. “Not a bad gift,” one teammate joked. But for Alex, it was more than that. It was a reminder of everything he had fought to reclaim.
Beyond the field, Alex’s story is also about love and loyalty. On June 21, 2025, he married Hannah Simpson. Through every setback, Hannah has been at his side, supporting him as a wife, cheerleader, and partner in the long fight back. For them, Friday’s game wasn’t just about football—it was about life. About moving forward together, healthier, happier, and stronger.
In a sport often dominated by headlines of massive contracts, viral highlights, and powerhouse programs, it’s easy to overlook stories like Alex’s. But maybe his is the one we need most. Because Alex reminds us that true greatness isn’t measured only in yards gained or games won—it’s measured in the courage to keep showing up, the loyalty to keep fighting for your team, and the resilience to stand tall when life tries to knock you down.
Alex McPherson may never make a national highlight reel. He may never be featured in the top 10 plays of the week. But on the night of his 22nd birthday, in a game where Auburn secured a solid victory, he was the biggest star on the field. Not because of the points he scored, but because of the heart he showed.
So here’s to Alex McPherson—a kicker, a fighter, a husband, and a young man whose courage deserves the loudest applause. He has already proven he is more than an athlete. He is an inspiration, a reminder of what it means to never give up, and proof that even in a sport of giants, sometimes the smallest man on the field stands the tallest.
