[Tuck4Bama]

Freshman kicker Tigers' most consistent weapon

AUBURN - Eddie Gran had heard about Wes Byrum and his powerful right leg. He'd even watched him on tape.

But when Gran, Auburn's special teams coach who recruits south Florida, saw Byrum live, he knew he was watching something special.

"He kicked five balls through the uprights on kickoffs," Gran said. "That kind of excited me."

And Gran is still excited.

Wes Byrum, who turned 18 years old in March, helped St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale reach the Florida 5A final last season. He a 5A All-State selection and was generally considered the nation's No. 2 kicker prospect. So far this season, he has been Auburn's most consistent offensive weapon.

Despite a still-painful ankle injury suffered on the opening kickoff against Kansas State, Byrum made the first three field goals he tried against Kansas State in a 23-13 Auburn victory. He was 3-for-3 in a 26-23 overtime loss to South Florida, including a 49-yarder, a 46-yarder that gave Auburn the lead with 3:19 left in the game and a 39-yarder in overtime. He is 4-for-4 on extra points.

"Surprised? No, I'm not really surprised," Gran said. "He's a different kind of kid. He's got some toughness about him."

Byrum displayed some of that toughness on Saturday. With his left ankle heavily taped, he wasn't kicking well in pregame warmups. He went to the sideline and cut the tape off.

"I just said 'To heck with it,' " Byrum said.

Only 18, Byrum making good on potential at AU- al.com