Auburn Kicker Sick, Alex McPherson’s Shocking 55-Pound Weight Loss and Miraculous Comeback

Alex McPherson was just another college football rising star in late 2023. He was a reliable kicker with an impeccable stat sheet and a bright future ahead of him. However, his circumstances had drastically changed by the summer of 2024. He wasn’t concerned with kicking percentages; instead, he was having trouble controlling his appetite and losing weight so quickly that his strength was noticeably deteriorating each week.

He once trained every day with Auburn’s strength and conditioning staff, but by July, his weight had dropped to less than 110 pounds, which is dangerously low. The diagnosis from the doctors was sobering: ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory colon disease. After a few months, things got so bad that Alex had to have his colon removed in December 2024, which was a life-saving procedure. In most cases, such surgery would be the end of a Division I athlete’s career. However, unlike most athletes, Alex was emotionally stable and remarkably resilient.

In the protracted, excruciating recuperation that ensued, Alex was not only getting better physically but also readjusting his objectives. Remarkably, what had once been about kicking through uprights turned into about walking pain-free, eating normally, and returning to his team—not as a sign of sympathy, but of perseverance. In addition to being intensely personal, that metamorphosis was also remarkably public, as Auburn supporters started to rallie around his narrative.

McPherson resumed campus practices in the spring of 2025. He was displaying signs of form, even though he hadn’t fully recovered his weight. Then, in an unexpected turn of events, his condition changed. After reevaluating his case, the doctors came up with the new diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease, in contrast to ulcerative colitis, can affect any area of the digestive system and frequently necessitates lifelong care. McPherson, however, remained unfazed. He demonstrated that the setback was a redirection rather than an end by actively managing his medications, following a strict diet, and increasing his strength week by week.

Alex did something that few anticipated on August 29, 2025, his birthday. He played flawlessly against Baylor, scoring five extra points and making a well-angled field goal. The match was more than just a season-long statistic. It served as a clear reminder that willpower and discipline, when combined, can frequently outweigh physical limitations.

He performed well again against Oklahoma later that season. Three more points. One goal in the field. No hesitation at all. Excuses are not acceptable. In a poetic way, he had grown stronger under duress; he was still physically vulnerable, but his mental fortitude was strengthened by everything he had been through. “We trust him not just because he’s accurate,” the special teams coach at Auburn subsequently stated. Because he has persevered through adversity and returned smiling, we have faith in him.

The sentiment is not limited to the sidelines. McPherson’s story has generated a lot of support on social media and in sports communities, especially among athletes and students who are dealing with chronic illnesses. An SEC kicker who has a colostomy bag rarely makes headlines, but Alex did, and he did it by letting his actions do the talking. Doubts were silenced by his precise kicks.

He increased the intensity of his training gradually during practices, starting out modestly and never overextending. By summer, he was much more focused and his leg strength had significantly increased. His teammates were amazed at how little self-pity he displayed, especially since many of them were present when he was at his lowest during hospital stays and dietary changes. “He never once asked why me—he asked, what now,” one teammate observed.

That mindset was evident off the field as well. In interviews, his wife, Hannah, has talked about how she saw Alex struggle with everyday tasks that many people take for granted. Their relationship, which was based on honesty and faith, supported him during those times of extreme vulnerability. “He was shrinking every day, but his spirit got louder,” said Hannah, who supported him during several ER visits.

Even the national sports media started to pay attention. A feature on him on ESPN’s College GameDay received thousands of positive comments. During team talks, coaches from all over the NCAA cited him as an example of mental toughness. Amazingly, he has been flawless throughout the 2025 season, missing not a single kick.

Alex is “the bravest football player I’ve ever seen,” according to his brother Evan McPherson, a standout kicker for the Cincinnati Bengals, who has publicly expressed his admiration for Alex. Their relationship is now unbreakable, emotional, and fraternal rather than just athletic. Especially poignant is the picture of Evan on the sidelines when Alex kicked a 42-yard pass against Kentucky. Two brothers. One common craft. However, there are very different paths leading to excellence.

Whether McPherson will continue to kick this season or if he is headed for national recognition is the current question. He is already on the Lou Groza Award watchlist, which is only given to the best college kickers, according to analysts. It may not matter if he wins or loses. Considering the physical toll he has suffered, just being mentioned is an accomplishment that is more powerful than any award.

Alex McPherson has developed into more than just Auburn’s dependable kicker thanks to his strategic discipline, emotional stability, and unwavering faith. He has come to represent recovery, perseverance, and excellence in the face of hardship. His story provides a unique viewpoint that transcends athletics, medicine, and human endurance, making it especially motivational for athletes dealing with chronic illness.