This story might never make the front page of national sports networks — but it should. Because what Auburn University kicker Alex McPherson has endured and overcome is more than a football story. It’s a story about heart, faith, love, and a kind of courage that transcends the game itself.

Recently, Alex was named a candidate for college football’s Courage Award, an honor presented by the Football Writers Association of America and the Orange Bowl. The award recognizes players who demonstrate extraordinary courage on or off the field — courage in the face of illness, injury, tragedy, or personal hardship. And if there’s anyone who embodies that description perfectly, it’s Alex McPherson.

A few short months ago, Alex wasn’t thinking about 50-yard field goals or game-winning kicks. He was fighting for his health, for his future, and, at times, for his life. Diagnosed withulcerative colitis, a severe and chronic disease that inflames and damages the colon, Alex was forced to step away from the game he loved. The illness robbed him of strength, energy, and stability — leaving him to face a battle that no athlete ever expects to fight.

Doctors tried every treatment, but the disease continued to worsen. After months of pain and countless hospital visits, Alex had no choice but to undergo a life-altering surgery last December — the removal of his entire colon. The operation left him with acolostomy bag, a visible reminder of the battle he’d been through. His weight dropped to just 114 pounds, and even the simplest physical activities became exhausting.

For many, that might have been the end of their athletic story. But not for Alex.

From the very beginning, he refused to let his condition define him. With the support of his family, friends, teammates, and most of all, his new wife Hannah, Alex began the slow, often painful process of recovery. Each day brought a new challenge — learning to move again, to rebuild his strength, to regain the weight and stamina he had lost. But Alex approached it the same way he approached football: with focus, patience, and faith.

And now, less than a year later, he’s doing what once seemed impossible — he’s kicking again.

Imagine this: an athlete standing on the practice field, lining up for a kick, feeling the familiar rush of wind and adrenaline. But on one side of his body is the bag that saved his life — a daily reminder of what he’s been through. Most would see it as a limitation. Alex sees it as a symbol of survival. It doesn’t slow him down; it pushes him forward.

He’s working to regain his range, his rhythm, and his strength. Every kick, every practice session, every drop of sweat is an act of defiance — a declaration that no illness, no obstacle, no setback will ever take away his purpose.

And through it all, Hannah has been by his side. The couple married just months ago, and their bond has only deepened through this trial. She has stood with him through every hospital stay, every hard day, every moment of uncertainty. Their story isn’t just about recovery — it’s about love that endures when life gets hardest.

Alex’s courage has not gone unnoticed. His coaches, teammates, and fans see more than a kicker returning to the field — they see a man who refused to quit. His story is a reminder that courage isn’t about being unafraid; it’s about showing up even when you are.

The Courage Award exists for players like Alex McPherson — athletes whose strength shines brightest when the lights are dimmest. It honors those who fight battles far beyond the field and, in doing so, inspire others to believe in something bigger than themselves.

When Alex steps onto the field now, he carries more than just a football. He carries a story — one of pain, perseverance, and unwavering faith. He carries hope for every person fighting their own invisible battle. He carries the reminder thatno circumstance can define you unless you let it.

It’s easy to look at Alex’s story as a comeback — but it’s more than that. It’s a transformation. He’s not the same person he was before the diagnosis. He’s stronger, wiser, and more compassionate. He’s lived through what most would never imagine, and instead of bitterness, he’s chosen gratitude.

He is, quite literally, kicking again — both in the sport he loves and in life itself. Each kick is an act of gratitude for the health he’s regained, for the people who stood by him, and for the second chance he’s been given.

Maybe his story hasn’t yet made national headlines. But maybe it should. Because in a world so often focused on statistics, wins, and records, Alex McPherson reminds us what true victory looks like— not in points, but in perseverance.

He’s not just an athlete; he’s an example. A living, breathing definition of courage.

So yes, perhaps this story belongs on every sports page in the country. Perhaps the world needs to hear about the kicker from Auburn who kicked back against adversity and won.

Because in the end, Alex McPherson isn’t just a candidate for the Courage Award — he’s the very embodiment of it.

And maybe, just maybe, his story will remind us all that even when life changes your game plan, you can still get back up, face the goal, and give it everything you’ve got.

Here’s to Alex — the kicker who turned pain into purpose, and who reminds us all what courage truly means.