This weekend, the Auburn Tigers will take on the South Alabama Jaguars for the first time in program history. It's homecoming weekend on the Plains, and everyone— including the football players— will be wearing white.
But white uniforms at home aren't the only new concept the Tigers are trying out this weekend. Following Thursday's practice, head coach Hugh Freeze told the media that Southern Miss transfer kicker Connor Gibbs would be moving up in the depth chart to replace Towns McGough as Auburn's long-range field goal kicker.
Of course, Alex McPherson is the first option for the Tigers when it comes to kicking, but after spending the past year dealing with ulcerative colitis, he has had trouble keeping his strength up for the longer kicks. Freeze said that McPherson would get the first shot at any kicks around 40 yards or less.
"Connor is going to get the nod for the first longer one," Freeze said, per Auburn Undercover. "We'll see at first how Alex — last week it was the 20-yard line, this week it's the 25-yard line, I think, after today. We'll see how he feels. After that, Connor will get a shot on anything longer."
McGough, now in his second season with Auburn football, is only 5-of-13 in field goal attempts during his career on the Plains. He limped off the field after a missed field goal attempt in last weekend's matchup against Ball State, but Freeze reported it was only a minor injury.
After McGough's struggles in game two, Freeze opened up the kicking competition in practice for who would take on the long-range kicks, and now Gibbs has earned his shot. While at Southern Miss last season, Gibbs completed three field goals over 50 yards and went 10-of-13 overall.
The Tigers and the Jaguars kick off at 11:45 a.m. tomorrow.