Alex McPherson nominated for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award
DALLAS (FWAA) — Auburn’s Alex McPherson is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. McPherson, a fourth-year junior, overcame Crohn’s disease to return to kicking for the Tigers this season.
“It’s hard to describe,” McPherson, speaking on an SEC Network feature in September, said of his return. “It’s just a feeling of like, Finally. We finally did it. We finally got back out on this field. We finally did it.”
McPherson began to feel ill late in December of the 2023 season, saying he would go to the bathroom 15-20 times a day. He lost 20 pounds. He figured he had a stomach bug. A colonoscopy in April of 2024 revealed ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. He was hospitalized at the end of July after repeated vomiting, forcing him to lose 55 pounds and drop to 110 pounds.
On Dec. 20, 2024, McPherson had a six-hour surgery to remove his large intestine, a procedure that included creating a stoma — connected to an ostomy bag — outside of his body for waste to come out. He asked that it be put on his left side, so that he could still kick with his right leg.
The Fort Payne, Ala., native adjusted to his new normal this past spring, learning to kick with the stoma. Another setback arrived afterward, costing McPherson another 30 pounds, but he was given a new diagnosis in August: Crohn’s disease.
Doctors came up with a new treatment plan, and McPherson returned to playing action in Auburn’s season-opening win at Baylor on Aug. 29, hitting his only field goal attempt and connecting on all five extra point attempts.
McPherson is 5-for-5 on field goal attempts this season and has hit all 19 extra point attempts. He’s made 25 of 27 career field goal attempts on The Plains and has connected on all 71 extra point attempts.
He made the SEC all-freshman team in 2023 and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, before being limited to just one game in 2024 because of his ailments. He has kicked in all six games for the Tigers so far this season.
The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. 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. The winner of the award will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and receive his trophy at an on-field presentation.
Previous winners of the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award are North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft (2025), Virginia running back Mike Hollins (2023), Oregon tight end Cam McCormick (2022), the University of Utah football Team (2021), Arkansas State analyst Alex Charlton (2020), Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson (2019), SUNY Cortland linebacker Kyle Richard (2018), Wisconsin safety D’Cota Dixon (2017), Pitt running back James Conner (2016), Miami offensive lineman Hunter Knighton (2015), Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson (2014), San Jose State defensive lineman Anthony Larceval (2013), Clemson wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez (2012), Michigan State offensive lineman Arthur Ray Jr. (2011), Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand (2010), the University of Connecticut football team (2009), Tulsa’s Wilson Holloway (2008), Navy’s Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis’ Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State’s Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo’s William Bratton (2002).008), Navy’s Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis’ Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State’s Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo’s William Bratton (2002).
About Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl is a primarily volunteer non-profit sports organization with more than 400 members that promotes and serves the South Florida community. With its primary mission since being created in 1935 to bring tourism to South Florida through an annual football game and events, it has also maintained a legacy of charitable contributions and community outreach. Orange Bowl’s community outreach is embodied by the four pillars of its Orange Bowl Cares program: Youth Sports, Education, Community Engagement, and Legacy Programs. Orange Bowl features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026.For more information about Orange Bowl events, including promotional inquiries and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, visit orangebowl.org or follow @OrangeBowl on social media.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.
To submit a nomination for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, contact Matt Fortuna at matt.fortuna@gmail.com.
2025 Weekly Nominees
- 17: Army safety Larry Pickett Jr.
- 24: Michigan linebacker Ernest Hausmann
- 1: North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson
- 8: Missouri State fullback Connor Lair
- 15: Auburn kicker Alex McPherson
