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The biggest beneficiary of Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s resignation in January was Ohio State. The Buckeyes were able to bring three Crimson Tide players to Columbus through the transfer portal. While safety Caleb Downs and quarterback Julian Sayin have drawn the most attention, center Seth McLaughlin will immediately step into Ohio State’s offensive line this season.
Before committing to Alabama, McLaughlin grew up in Buford, Georgia, and played high school football there. In addition to becoming a four-star recruit, McLaughlin replaced former Harry Miller on the offensive line after Miller graduated and transferred to Ohio State to play for the Buckeyes from 2019-2021. McLaughlin was part of Alabama’s 2020 recruiting class, but he saw limited action during his freshman year in Tuscaloosa.
McLaughlin was thrown in at the deep end late in the 2021 season when he made his first start for Alabama in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, a game the Crimson Tide ended up winning to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff. After a strong performance against the Bulldogs, McLaughlin earned the start in the CFP semifinal win over Cincinnati as well as the rematch loss to Georgia in the title game.
Despite performing well in three starts at center to close out the 2021 season, McLaughlin was still behind Darrian Dalcourt on Alabama’s roster entering the 2022 season. McLaughlin would eventually return to the starting center position as Dalcourt struggled with injuries. At the end of a season in which the Crimson Tide lost games to Tennessee and LSU by a combined four points and failed to advance to the playoffs, McLaughlin had started eight games.
Unlike the 2022 season, there was no question about McLaughlin’s role on the offensive line last year, as Dalcourt moved to guard so McLaughlin could start at center. McLaughlin started 13 games for a Crimson Tide team that sneaked into the College Football Playoff after defeating Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, breaking the Bulldogs’ 29-game winning streak.
Unfortunately for McLaughlin and Alabama, not only did they lose to Michigan in overtime in the Rose Bowl, the center also had a series of bad snaps, including one on the final play of the game.
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Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Two days after the loss to Michigan, McLaughlin entered the transfer portal. Just three days later, McLaughlin decided Ohio State was the right place for him.
The move makes a lot of sense for both sides. Not only did McLaughlin want to play for a prestigious team like Alabama that is competing for a national title, but Ohio State also brought in an established center because there were questions at the position after Carson Hinzman did not play in the Cotton Bowl.
The McLaughlin hire made even more sense after Ohio State hired Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator. O’Brien was part of Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama in 2021 and 2022, so he was already familiar with working with McLaughlin. O’Brien’s time in Columbus lasted less than a month, as he took over the head coaching position at Boston College that became vacant after O’Brien was hired by Ohio State.
Despite O’Brien’s departure, Ohio State has actually strengthened its offensive coordinator since hiring UCLA head coach Chip Kelly, Ryan Day’s mentor.
Even though he has played in 35 games and started 24 over the past three seasons, there are some Ohio State fans who might be wary of McLaughlin because of some of those bad snaps against Michigan. McLaughlin isn’t too worried about it and is more comfortable in Ohio State’s offense because there is a difference in cadence and signaling.
Jalen Milroe and Alabama signaled that they were ready for the snap by clapping, while Ohio State wants to use a verbal cadence that is more comfortable for McLaughlin.
There are certainly a number of new offensive players who will receive more attention than McLaughlin, but the center will be crucial to Ohio State’s success this year. The Buckeyes need McLaughlin to put some of the inconsistent snap issues he had last year behind him, and hopefully a change of scenery will help with that.
McLaughlin has plenty of experience in big games and should fit well on the Buckeyes team that is aiming for the national title this year.
