DALLAS (FWAA) – Junior kicker Alex McPherson has been named the recipient of the 24th annual Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, the Football Writers Association of America announced Thursday.
“It’s hard to put into words,” McPherson said of the honor. “It’s been an awesome year. From the beginning of the season, not even knowing if I'm going to be able to play the full season, to having the decent season I had, and to be able to come back and play with my guys on the team, this award is kind of the cherry on top. It's awesome that I'm able to receive this, and it's just an honor to be able to have it. I’m excited just to see what the future holds now. It's been a long road, but it was definitely worth it in the end.”
McPherson, who is the first player from the Southeastern Conference to earn the honor, will officially be presented with the award during the Orange Bowl, a quarterfinal matchup in this year’s College Football Playoff, on January 1, 2026.
“Alex McPherson is a most worthy recipient of this year’s Courage Award,” former FWAA President Matt Fortuna said. “The perseverance that Alex showed to endure what seemed like a never-ending cycle of poor heath, and to adjust to the situation that he found himself in, is a characteristic that everyone in college football could learn from. The fact that he not only returned to the playing field but also proved to be a difference-maker for Auburn this season is a heck of a way to make a statement.”
After beginning to feel ill in December 2023, a colonoscopy in April 2024 revealed McPherson had ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that hospitalized him at the end of July and caused him to lose 55 pounds, dropping his weight to 110 pounds.
He kicked in just one game during the 2024 season before undergoing surgery that December and beginning his road to recovery. However, a setback prior to the 2025 season revealed a new diagnosis, Chrohn’s disease, and cost him another 30 pounds. Regardless, McPherson, his doctors and the Auburn football athletic training staff led by Robbie Stewart came up with a new treatment plan that had him ready for his junior season.
Overcoming his health issues, McPherson finished the 2025 regular season ranked fourth in the Southeastern Conference with 20 field goals made, tied for the fifth most in Auburn’s single-season history, and fifth in field goal percentage (87.0). After ending the season with 14 consecutive made attempts, his 88.9 career field goal percentage is the highest in program history, and his 40 career field goals made are eighth most.
The Courage Award was first presented by the FWAA in 2002, and the requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.
Previous award winners can be found here.