The Auburn Tigers have been struggling with their field goal performance, ranking last in the SEC for field goal percentage in 2024. To address this issue, the Tigers have turned to the transfer portal and signed Connor Gibbs, a former kicker from Southern Miss. The addition of Gibbs is part of Auburn’s efforts to strengthen its special teams unit for the 2025 season, aiming to restore its reputation as a powerhouse in special teams.
Gibbs, a sophomore standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 180 pounds, has a solid background from his time with the Golden Eagles. Over two seasons at Southern Miss, Gibbs appeared in 16 games and demonstrated strong kicking ability. During the 2024 season, he converted 10 out of 13 field goal attempts, with his longest successful kick being a 59-yard field goal. In addition to his field goal prowess, Gibbs had a notable performance on kickoffs, averaging 59.2 yards per attempt across 30 kickoffs. Six of those kickoffs resulted in touchbacks, further showcasing his strong leg.
Before joining Southern Miss, Gibbs was highly regarded as one of the top kicking prospects in the nation. According to Kohl’s Kicking, a well-known kicking evaluation service, Gibbs was rated as a five-star recruit coming out of high school and was ranked as the No. 20 kicker in the nation in the class of 2023. His success in college and his status as a highly ranked prospect make him a promising addition to Auburn’s special teams unit.
Auburn’s special teams struggled in 2024, especially in the kicking game. The Tigers’ field goal kicking woes were apparent throughout the season, as they finished with a dismal 12 of 22 attempts, converting only 54.6% of their kicks. This placed them at the bottom of the SEC standings, with no other team in the conference performing worse than 66.7% on field goal attempts. Part of the Tigers’ challenges in the kicking game came from injuries and inconsistency at the kicker position.
One of the key factors in Auburn’s kicking struggles was the absence of starting kicker Alex McPherson, who missed nearly the entire 2024 season due to injury. McPherson, who had been a reliable option in previous seasons, only appeared in Auburn’s victory over Kentucky, where he made one of two field goal attempts. With McPherson sidelined, Auburn had to rely on a mix of other kickers.
True freshman Towns McGough was thrust into the starting role early in the season, but his performance was inconsistent. McGough made only five of his 12 field goal attempts, contributing to Auburn’s field goal struggles. Later in the season, sophomore Ian Vachon took over the starting kicking duties for the final three games of the year. Vachon showed improvement, converting six out of eight field goals during that stretch. Despite the improvements by Vachon, the Tigers’ overall field goal performance remained a significant weakness.
The signing of Gibbs offers hope that Auburn can turn things around in 2025. With Gibbs’ proven track record at Southern Miss, the Tigers expect him to provide a reliable option at kicker. His strong leg and accuracy will be crucial as Auburn seeks to improve its field goal percentage and overall special teams performance. Gibbs’ experience and success on both field goals and kickoffs also give Auburn an added weapon in the kicking game, which could make a difference in close games.
Gibbs is not the only special teams addition for Auburn through the transfer portal. The Tigers also signed punter Hudson Kaak, who previously played at Oklahoma State. Kaak’s arrival adds further depth to Auburn’s special teams unit, providing the Tigers with additional talent and competition at both the kicker and punter positions. The addition of Gibbs and Kaak signals Auburn’s commitment to improving its special teams, an area that was notably lacking in 2024.
In addition to their transfer portal acquisitions, Auburn has also made moves in recruiting. The Tigers secured a commitment from John Alan McGuire, a five-star punter from Alabaster, Alabama, in their 2025 recruiting class. McGuire, ranked as the No. 5 punter nationally by Kohl’s Kicking, will join Auburn as part of their effort to bolster their special teams even further. His addition adds another highly rated prospect to the Tigers’ kicking and punting group, further strengthening their special teams unit for the upcoming season.
While the Tigers’ 2024 special teams unit faced numerous challenges, the 2025 season is shaping up to be a different story. With the signing of Connor Gibbs and the addition of Hudson Kaak, as well as the commitment of John Alan McGuire, Auburn is taking proactive steps to improve its special teams and correct its field goal kicking issues. The Tigers will look to return to prominence in the kicking game and make a more significant impact in the SEC in 2025.
Auburn’s focus on improving special teams comes at a crucial time for the program, as the Tigers are aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season. Strong special teams play is often a key factor in close games, and Auburn hopes that by addressing their kicking game weaknesses, they can give themselves a better chance to compete at a higher level. The addition of Gibbs, along with other special teams improvements, should help the Tigers achieve this goal and restore the team’s standing in the SEC.
Ultimately, the success of Auburn’s special teams in 2025 will depend on the performance of players like Gibbs, Kaak, and McGuire, as well as the overall development of the team’s kicking and punting units. The Tigers are hopeful that these additions will give them the boost they need to improve their field goal percentage and return to being a strong force in the SEC.
