Friday night in Waco, Texas, with the stadium lights blazing and the roar of the crowd echoing through the humid air, college football fans were ready for another classic showdown. Auburn versus Baylor. But as the Tigers pulled off a 38-24 win, the real story—the one that no one saw coming—was quietly unfolding on the sideline and in the heart of a young man who refused to quit.

His name is Alex McPherson. Maybe you haven’t heard of him. Maybe you missed his name scrolling the headlines. But what happened on the night of his 22nd birthday is something every sports fan—and every person—should know about.

Alex isn’t your typical college football star. He’s not the biggest guy on the field. In fact, at 155 pounds, he might be the smallest. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in pure, unfiltered courage. And on Friday night, that courage was on full display.

Just last year, Alex was perfect. Not just good—perfect. He didn’t miss a single kick for Auburn in 2023. But life has a way of throwing curveballs, and for Alex, the curveball came in the form of ulcerative colitis, a brutal disease that attacks the colon and drains the body of strength, weight, and hope. In 2024, Alex played in only one game. By July, he had dropped to a shocking 110 pounds. His future in football—and in life—was suddenly up in the air.

Most people would have folded. Most people would have walked away. But Alex isn’t most people. Last December, he underwent a life-altering surgery: doctors removed his colon. It was a desperate move, but it was the only way forward. Recovery was tough. The road back to football was even tougher.

But Alex put in the work. All summer, while his teammates were grinding on the field, he was grinding in rehab, fighting for every ounce of strength, every pound regained, every little victory. He wanted to be ready for the season opener. He wanted to prove that he could still do what he loved.

Then, just a few weeks ago, another setback. More ulcers. More weight loss. More doubt. But again, Alex refused to quit. With the help of Auburn’s doctors and trainers, he found a way to suit up for the opener against Baylor. And on Friday night, he did something that most people can’t even imagine.

He attached his colostomy bag to his football uniform. He ran out onto the field, not just as a kicker, but as a survivor. And then, in front of thousands of screaming fans, he calmly nailed a field goal and five extra points, accounting for eight points on the night. Not bad for a guy who, just months ago, weighed barely more than a middle schooler.

This wasn’t just a football game. This was a statement. This was a young man saying, “I’m still here. I’m still fighting. And I’m not done yet.”

If you’re looking for the biggest star of the weekend, don’t bother checking the highlight reels. Don’t look for the fastest running back or the strongest linebacker. Look for the kid from Fort Payne, Alabama, the one with the colostomy bag hidden under his pads, the one who never made SportsCenter but made everyone who knows his story believe in the power of grit.

Alex McPherson’s journey is about more than football. It’s about what it means to get knocked down and get back up. It’s about loyalty—to his team, to his coaches, to himself. When most people would have given up, Alex doubled down. He kept showing up, kept working, kept believing that he could still make a difference.

And let’s not forget what else is waiting for Alex off the field. On June 21st, he married Hannah Simpson, the love of his life. Now, as he looks forward to a healthy, successful 2025 season, he’s also looking forward to a new chapter—a life of wedded bliss, shared dreams, and, hopefully, more victories both big and small.

In a sport that celebrates giants, it’s easy to overlook the little guy. But sometimes, the bravest hearts come in the smallest packages. Alex McPherson may never be the biggest name in college football. He may never be the guy who gets the most headlines or the loudest cheers. But on Friday night, he was the hero. He was the example. He was the reason we all watch sports in the first place—to see ordinary people do extraordinary things.

So here’s to Alex McPherson—the kicker who kicked through pain, through doubt, through everything life tried to throw his way. Here’s to the teammates and doctors and trainers who stood by him, who believed in him, who helped him find his way back. Here’s to the power of family, of love, of never giving up.

And here’s to every kid out there who thinks they’re too small, too sick, too broken to make a difference. Look at Alex. Look at what he did. And remember: sometimes, the biggest stars are the ones you never see coming.

If you want to know what real courage looks like, you don’t have to look any further than the Auburn sideline. You just have to look for number 38. The kid with the colostomy bag—and the heart of a lion.