AUBURN, Ala. – Contributing wherever he can, senior wide receiver Jackson McFadden has worked himself into several valuable roles during his time with Auburn football.
McFadden is entering his second year as the starting holder for the team and his final year at Auburn. He walked on as a wide receiver his freshman year of college and has continued to work hard and persevere through the many trials of being a student-athlete.
"The ups have been great, and the downs have taught me a lot," said McFadden, who is majoring in finance and minoring in Spanish and still trying to navigate what life will be like after football and following his graduation from Auburn in the spring.
One of those ups came last season prior to the LSU game when the coaches notified McFadden that he would serve as the holder for field goals and extra points – an unsung-hero role for which he had been preparing for. It's still his most memorable moment at Auburn.
His work as the holder has helped Auburn and its All-American kicker Anders Carlson convert countless extra points and field goals over the last year. Carlson is currently third in the SEC in scoring at 11.2 points per game and recently moved up to third in Auburn career scoring with 320 points. McFadden looks forward to helping Carlson add to that total while also continuing to work every day at a wide receiver.
There's also the constant reminder to "live in the moment and enjoy every moment like it is your last" because for McFadden, it is his last season on the Plains. He's trying to enjoy every game, practice and workout while helping the team out however he can.
McFadden, who considers himself a man of faith, does the same thing before every game when the team is about to huddle. He says a prayer. It's a pre-game ritual that started when he was in high school and has carried over throughout his time at Auburn.
"I always felt prayer was powerful," he said. "There are a lot of things that can happen to both sides, so I always pray for protection."
So how did McFadden, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, end up at Auburn?
"Everyone says it, but the Auburn Family," McFadden said. The first time he arrived on campus, it felt like home. "You don't get that at a lot of other schools."
There's been a lot of change with the new coaching staff, but McFadden has a great relationship with his coaches and says they have been "really intentional and dedicated" to building relationships with the players, no matter their position or how they first joined the team. He's also extremely close with his teammates.
"With a sport like football, what you're going through bonds you like no other," McFadden said. "I have guys that I've played with that are going to be in my wedding."
Outside of football, McFadden is involved in Greek life with the fraternity Phi Gamma Delta. He values the time he gets to spend with his brothers and at service events through his involvement. He also worked at the Auburn Campus Recreation and Wellness Center and formed friendships with his co-workers and other students when he was not on the football field.
Looking back, Auburn has been a blessing to McFadden in a number of ways. A member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, the AD Honor Roll and Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Honor Society, he will carry the Auburn spirit him wherever he goes.
"When you think of Auburn, you think of 'War Eagle,'" McFadden said. "Those two words and the emotions they carry encompass what Auburn is.
"Thank you to the fans for being there and making my experience one of a kind."