Signee Analysis: What Auburn is getting in kicker Towns McGough
Auburn got a huge addition to the 2024 class in kicker Towns McGough.
Recruiting:
McGough chose Auburn over Ole Miss, North Carolina, Tennessee and several others.
What Auburn is getting in McGough:
The strongest leg in the country, McGough had one of the best seasons ever for a kicker as a senior. He was 19-22 on field goals this season and didn’t have a miss inside 57 yards. Of those 19 field goals, only one came inside 40 yards according to coach Keith Etheridge. A soccer player turned kicker, McGough is still just scratching the surface of what he can be as a kicker as he continues to get experience on the football field.
Player comparison:
It’s hard to compare anyone to one of the best to ever do it, but that’s the comparison for me with McGough. I see a lot of Justin Tucker when I watch McGough kick the football. It’s effortless when he makes contact and he drives the football like Tiger Woods hit his drive when he was in his prime. Tucker’s accuracy has been his biggest strength in the NFL even with his strong leg and that’s something that McGough has going for him as well. Because of his soccer background, he’s used to kicking off the ground and there have been no issues making that transition.
What it means for the Tigers:
Auburn has had a history for the last 10-15 years of having the next kicker ready to take over. From Wes Byrum to Cody Parkey to Daniel Carlson to Anders Carlson to Alex McPherson, the Tigers have done a great job of being prepared and having the next kicker ready to go. This continues that with McGough stepping in with McPherson heading into his third season on the Plains. A player that could be done after the 2024 season with NFL interest coming already, if McPherson were to be done after next fall then McGough would be ready to take over.
Coach’s take from Auburn High’s Keith Etheridge:
“It’s going to be huge for him and unbelievable for Auburn,” Etheridge said of McGough coming in to compete with Alex McPherson. “I’m kind of selfish because I have a son that plays there. I have seven guys on the team. I want to see them do well. Towns is going to come in and learn from one of the best. We played against Alex and we knew we couldn’t let them get across the 50-yard line. I know people felt like that with Towns.
“The biggest thing is that he’s just been doing it for two years. When you put him with Alex and Alex can teach him how to take care of his leg and load management. All that is going to be huge for Towns. He’s a professional. He wants to do it right. He wants to be the best he can be.
“He wants to do things the right way. I think it’s huge he’s going to Auburn. Alex could go pro next year and you would have Towns sitting right there, but he’s one of those kids that wants to compete. He’s going to push Alex and I think Alex will get better. It’s going to be one of those iron sharpens iron things.”
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