Carlson Earns SEC Player of the Week Honors

Auburn Kicker Daniel Carlson (Photo: Auburn Athletics/Dakota Sumpter)

The Southeastern Conference has announced the players of the week for week two, and an Auburn Tiger made the cut.

Junior Kicker Daniel Carlson was named the Special Teams Player of the Week by the Southeastern Conference on Monday, following one of the best performances in his career. Carlson was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, his longest being from 42 yards in the 4th quarter of the game against Arkansas State. Carlson was also 6-for-6 on PAT attempts, and each of his kickoffs went for touchbacks.

While those numbers were amazing, the most impressive play of the night came in the second quarter.

With 7:59 remaining in the first half, Carlson lined up for a 37 yard field goal attempt. Noticing an open space in Arkansas State’s coverage, holder Tyler Stovall took the snap, and would pitch the ball behind him to Carlson, and Carlson would score the first touchdown of his career to put Auburn up 28-7.

“I’ve never carried the ball before.” Carlson said following the win on Saturday night, “Besides punting, that’s the only time that I have ever touched it with my hands.”

How did Carlson perfect the art? He watched film of the 1999 LSU game in Death Valley, when then Head Coach Tommy Tuberville executed the play with Damon Duval.