Aug. 28, 2017
By Margaret Hurt
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - When Daniel Carlson committed to join the Auburn football team, he knew what he was getting into. Growing up in a family of Alabama graduates, Carlson was no stranger to the football culture of the South, but football was not the only thing on Carlson's mind when he chose Auburn.
The Colorado Springs, Colo. native felt Auburn offered him a place not only to grow as an athlete, but also to grow as a man. A large part of what drew Carlson to Auburn was knowing he would be able to excel academically while being part of one of the most competitive football programs in the nation.
Carlson chose to come to a university where he knew he would be surrounded by coaches, teammates and friends who would positively impact his character, a decision he has not regretted.
Redshirting his first season as a Tiger in 2013, then Auburn kicker Cody Parkey mentored Carlson during Daniel's first year. "You've got to be ready, and sometimes when you're 18 years old, 19 years old, coming right out of high school where maybe one thousand fans are there for a game -- it's a little bit of a shock those first few games," Carlson recalls.
"It's definitely nice to kind of take it in for a season and just feel it out, and then you can actually go through with it next year," he says.
Even now, in his fourth season as Auburn's starting kicker, Carlson admits he still gets nervous sometimes. "The thing I try and think of is I've kicked a football a million times by now," he says, "and so whether I'm kicking it in practice when nobody's watching or in the Iron Bowl and the game's on the line, it's the same exact kick. Either way I'm trying to make it."
And Carlson makes it - a lot.
His freshman season, Carlson was 57-57 on point-after attempts, setting the record for the most PATs in a season without a miss by an Auburn kicker, and was 18-24 on field goals.
As a sophomore, Carlson was 40-40 on PATs, 23-27 on FGs, and a unanimous first team all-SEC selection, second team-All-American and Lou Groza Award finalist.
His 2016 season highlights included Carlson scoring his first career touchdown against Arkansas State, making a school-record six field goals against LSU, and becoming a Groza Award finalist, all-SEC performer and second team All-American for the second consecutive year.
"I've had so many great memories," Carlson says. "The LSU game for me personally was a lot of fun to have six field goals -- that doesn't happen very often. It's hard to pick out just one because there are so many great memories and every win is special."
Entering his senior season, Carlson is positioned to break more Auburn and SEC records and be a Groza finalist for a third consecutive year. Rather than thinking about his own potential achievements, Carlson is focused in on a bigger picture -- winning the SEC championship. "Right now it's just about winning for me and helping this team out how I can," Carlson said.
The two-time first-team all-SEC player would be perfectly content kicking only extra points all season, as long as at the end of the day, Auburn finishes with a win.
Carlson's productivity doesn't stop when he leaves the field. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance in three years and is working toward completing his MBA in the Harbert College of Business.
A campus leader in community service, Carlson finds time to help others.
"Very rewarding," he says. "Being able to spend a couple weeks on a couple different mission trips, visiting kids in the hospital, helping people whenever you get a chance -- that's important to me. Putting yourself in different situations than what you are used to and getting out of your norm, that's when you have amazing experiences.
"The Lord's put me in a position to have an influence, and hopefully I make that a positive influence on others. The Lord's given me much, so I just try to give back. Sometimes it's difficult with all our time demands, but if it's something that's important to you, you can find the time.
"Nothing beats the feeling of being able to put a smile on people's faces -- all kinds of people with different struggles. To love on people -- it's something satisfying for yourself, and hopefully something that helps them."
Heading into the season with a championship mindset and team-first attitude, Carlson plans to finish with a flourish.
"This is my last season so I'm hoping to make it really special both just for myself and as a part of this team," Carlson says. "I think we're in the right position to be able to do that."
Margaret Hurt is a student assistant in Auburn athletics communications