Typically, Auburn fans do not have to worry about their team’s placekicker. In recent history, names such as Wes Bynum, Cody Parkey, and Daniel Carlson come to mind as legendary kickers on the Plains.

This season, Daniel Carlson’s younger brother Anders is the kicker for the Tigers, but has not made the headlines Auburn fans are used to seeing from that position. The redshirt freshman is 5/10 on field goals in 2018, and missed three field goals in the LSU and Arkansas games combined.

On Auburn coach Gus Malzahn’s weekly radio show, “Tiger Talk”, he expressed confidence in his young kicker down the stretch.

“He is going to make a kick to win a football game for us this year” said Malzahn.

“We need to give (Anders Carlson) a couple more chances a little closer to the goal post and not 50-yarders all the time.”

It was clear that Auburn fans are not used to worrying about kickers, after the fan reaction to Carlson’s misses against Arkansas. His older brother Daniel has not had a great 2018 either. The Auburn grad set records on the Plains, but was cut by the Minnesota Vikings only two games into his rookie season after being drafted in the 5th round.

The younger Carlson likely won’t be needed for a game-winner when Auburn faces off against Southern Mississippi on Saturday, but matchups against LSU, Georgia, and Alabama loom large down the stretch. Malzahn clearly knows his kicker will need confidence if he is called upon in a late-game situation.