Florida Football: Evan McPherson sends Bengals to AFC championship game

Evan McPherson kicks Bengals into the AFC championship game

Former Florida football kicker Evan McPherson, who spent all three years of his collegiate career with the Gators, has proven his worth to the Cincinnati Bengals.  As the only kicker drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, Evan at the time seemed like a controversial pick, considering he was taken in the fifth round at pick 149.  However, after last night, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was the correct pick.  After proving he had power all season and could hit kicks in the clutch, McPherson would go on to drill a 52-yarder for the Bengals last night to lift them over the #1 seed Tenessee Titans.  This kick sends the Bengals to the AFC championship game for the first time in 34 years.  

Evan McPherson Career with Florida football

With this kick going through, and Evan getting national attention now, it is worth going over what he did for the Florida football program as well.  One of the most notable and telling stats from his career with the Gators is his extra points attempted vs made.  McPherson would attempt 150 extra points in his collegiate career, and would only miss one of them in three seasons over the span of this time.  He also had quite a few long-distance field goals, and his stat-sheet was quite full:

• 302 points in collegiate career
• 51/60 on field goals (85%, highest in SEC at the time), 149/150 on PATs (99.3%)
• 2020 – 4 field goal makes from 50+ yards (single-season school record) one of which being 55 yards (3rd longest in school history)
• (In high school) recorded a 60-yard field goal and an 84-yard punt

Not only was he powerful with his leg, however, he was also exceptionally accurate which we saw this season in the NFL.  The video below shows this accuracy, which was taken prior to the NFL Draft in 2021.

“The Kick” & NFL rookie season

So far, Evan has had a phenomenal rookie year after leaving Florida football for the NFL Draft.  His accuracy and power have transferred to the next level as well, kicking 46/48 on field goals in the regular season (95.8%) and 28/33 on field goals (84.8%).  The power comes in when you see he has only missed 2 field goals from 50+ this season, going 9 for 11 (81.8%).  In the regular season, McPherson amassed 130 points and was top 10 in extra points made & attempted (7th in both).  Evan would also have 2 special teams player of the week awards, and one special teams player of the month award in 2021.

In terms of the kick on Saturday evening, Joe Burrow told reporters that Evan McPherson said the following before drilling the 52-yard field goal:

"“Looks like we’re going to the AFC Championship game.”"

A Logan Wilson interception (tipped by Eli Apple) would set up the Bengals’ short field to give Evan a chance to send them to the final four teams.  Evan McPherson, who has been clutch almost all season in big scenarios, would show off for the Florida football program and make a name for himself with one major play.