The Bengals shored up their kicking game selecting one of the top prospects in the draft as Florida kicker Evan McPherson was selected in the fifth round.
McPherson was the top kicking prospect in 2018 class (also ranked fifth as a punter) after nearly setting Alabama records with a 60-yard field goal and 84-yard punt as a senior at Fort Payne High School.
McPherson took over the starting job for the Gators as a true freshman in 2018, tying for sixth in the FBS in field goal percentage (17 of 19, 89.5 percent, long of 48 yards) and leading the Gators with 101 points scored (50 of 50 on extra points, 45 touchbacks on 81 kickoffs). He ranked 10th in the nation and led the SEC with the same field goal percentage in 2019 (17 of 19, 89.5 percent, long of 50 yards) while making 47-of-48 point-after tries and sending 51 of 80 kickoffs for touchbacks.
McPherson had a solid 2020 season, leading the Gators with 103 points (52-of-52 XP; 17-of-22 FGs, 77.3 percent, four conversions from 50-plus yards with a long of 55; 40 touchbacks on 80 kickoffs). His brother, Logan, was a punter at Louisiana Tech.
