Auburn football: Numbers you need to know entering Week 2 vs. Alabama State

The kicking game

The stat: 53 and 6

One of the big questions about this year’s team was how the Tigers would adapt to not having Daniel Carlson booming kickoffs through the end zone and hitting field goal after field goal.

Problem solved.

Redshirt freshman Anders Carlson, Daniel’s brother, stepped in and it was like old times.

All six of Carlson’s kickoffs went for touchbacks and he made 3 of 5 field goal attempts.

Yes, he missed two, but one was from 54 yards (the other from 33) and had the distance. He gave Auburn a 15-6 lead in the second quarter when he booted one in from 53 yards that had lots of room to spare.

The game announcers said multiple times that Carlson was easily hitting 58-yarders during warmups.

What it means: Everyone would like to see Auburn settle for fewer field goal attempts and score more touchdowns. That remains the goal. But if you have to attempt that many, it’s good to have another Carlson on Auburn’s side.

Even one game into the season, it’s clear that Gus Malzahn has confidence in Carlson by letting him try two 50-plus yard kicks in his first college game. Yes, it was in a dome and conditions are good for kicking, but it’s still a good sign.

Carlson’s next test will be kicking outdoors.

Auburn football fans and coaches are hoping most of those will come on kickoffs and extra points Saturday against Alabama State.