Few players in college football have had to endure half as much physical hardship over the last year as Auburn kicker Alex McPherson.

After a bout with ulcerative colitis sidelined him for all but one of Auburn's 12 games in 2024, he's kicked in each of the Tigers' first four games this season. His weight went all the way down to 110 pounds at one point, and even this season, after having surgery to remove his large intestine, McPherson has dealt with lingering symptoms at times.

Maintaining weight and strength has been a challenge, limiting his range on field goal attempts. But with new medication that has slowly started to help him gain weight and energy, McPherson's range is improving.

"It really just allowed me to keep food down, keep food in and get the nutrients that I needed to have the energy to go out and play," McPherson told reporters on Tuesday. "That's really been the biggest thing for me, having that energy to go out there and do it."

McPherson said at the beginning of preseason camp, the furthest he'd kick from was the 15 to 20-yard line, making his maximum field goal range around 38 yards.

Now, he said, his target line is the 30, and he's pushing to reach the 32-yard line, meaning he could attempt 50-yard field goals.

"I'm feeling a lot better," McPherson said. "Just physically, and the medicine is starting to work."

The longer McPherson can kick from, the better for Auburn. Connor Gibbs and Towns McGough, Auburn's two long-range kickers, have both struggled on field goals this season.

Both of them missed their lone field goal attempt, and neither came close to going through the uprights. McPherson is 23-for-25 on field goals in his career and was a perfect 13-for-13 in 2023 before being sidelined with the illness.

Auburn's next game is this Saturday's road clash with No. 9 Texas A&M. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT and the game will be televised on ESPN.