Alex McPherson 'battling' health issue, Hugh Freeze optimistic on season availability

ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. — Returning starting kicker Alex McPherson is probable to play this season, but is battling a health issue, head coach Hugh Freeze confirmed on Tuesday night at a speaking engagement.

“Alex McPherson is battling an issue that, it’s a weird issue and I really don’t want to go into that. He’s battling one. I think he’ll be OK,” Freeze said.

Sources have told Auburn Live this summer that McPherson has lost quite a bit of weight, but has been responding well to medicine lately and there is optimism around McPherson’s immediate outlook. Freeze confirmed some of that and commented further on McPherson’s status when asked for more clarity.

“I do,” Freeze said of whether or not he expects McPherson to play this season. “It’s not an injury, he’s battling a health issue that’s taken a while to get diagnosed. It has to do with gastrointestinal, and I think they are on the path to being on the right track.”

The 5-foot-9, 165-pound sophomore was 2-3 on field goals to finish the 2022 season after taking over for Anders Carlson, and was 13-13 on field goals last fall during his first full season. His current string of 19 straight made field goals is a school record. McPherson was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. McPherson was named SEC all-freshman team and earned multiple freshman All-American honors.