Kicker's Auburn commitment 'real' after official visit
AUBURN | Anders Carlson’s commitment to Auburn is now official, at least to him.
Yes, Carlson announced his intentions in June, but the kicker from Colorado Springs, Colo., needed to feel the reality for himself.
An official visit to Auburn over the weekend did the trick.
“The visit made the commitment feel real,” Carlson said. “When you commit, you’re still in high school and can’t really feel it, but when I came down here on an official visit and I’m only eight months away from being here, it made it feel real.”
Carlson and his parents arrived in Auburn Saturday morning and went to see Daniel Carlson, Anders’ older brother and Auburn’s kicker. Daniel was Anders’ player host during the visit.
“I was coming to support him,” Anders said of Daniel, who made 2-of-2 field goal attempts in Auburn’s 19-13 loss to Clemson, including one from 53 yards out. “I enjoyed the dinners and everything else, but hanging out with him was a lot of fun and it was good bonding time with him.”
Anders started his senior season Friday. The Classical Academy won its season opener, 48-0. Anders accounted for 11 points, connecting on 2-of-3 field goal attempts with a long of 48 yards. He also connected on a 23-yard attempt and was good on 5-of-5 extra point attempts.
His only miss came on a 61-yard field goal attempt.
“I had the distance, but it was left,” Anders said.
Anders spent the majority of his time with his brother, but also met extensively with Auburn special teams coach Scott Fountain. The recruit and coach have developed a strong bond since Anders first visited Auburn before his sophomore season.
“Coach Fountain has been very important to me,” Anders said. “He’s been with me the whole time. We’ve been close since I first came down here.”
Anders will be close to Daniel when he moves to Auburn next summer. He’ll also be near his grandparents, who live in Birmingham. The brothers were given nicknames by their grandparents, big Alabama fans, after committing to Auburn.
“I am now ‘TC 2’,” Anders said with a laugh. “I’m 'Turn Coat No. 2.' But they support me and I’m excited to be closer to them.”
As for his commitment to Auburn, Anders doesn’t have any doubts.
“This is it,” he said. ”I’m 100-percent. Auburn is a family and I can feel it.”
Kohl’s Kicking Academy ranks Anders Carlson the No. 2 kicker in the 2017 class.
