Fifth year senior and Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin who started all ten games for Ohio State this season at center is out for the season with a torn achilles tendon.
The Buford (GA) native and former four-star recruit, suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice on Tuesday and will miss the remainder of the season according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch. The injury comes just days prior to the No. 2 Buckeyes' showdown with No. 5 the Indiana Hoosiers.
Head coach Ryan Day confirmed Seth McLaughlin tore his Achilles in practice this week per Eleven Warriors.
Ohio State’s Starting Center and Best Offensive Lineman, Seth McLaughlin, Tore His Achilles And Is Out For The Year https://t.co/miC706GNph pic.twitter.com/hTHzJxvxeF
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 21, 2024
The Buckeyes have already lost starting left tackle Josh Simmons for the season, after he suffered a torn acl against Oregon earlier this season.
Last month, he was named a midseason all-American by the Associated Press and The Sporting News, among other outlets. McLaughlin is likely to be replaced by Joshua Padilla, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound redshirt freshman.
Padilla is a former four-star recruit, who was ranked No. 228 in the nation overall, No. 11 at the interior offensive line position and No. 6 in the state of Ohio per 247Sports Composite
The Buckeyes were named one of 10 semifinalists last week for the Joe Moore Award, which recognizes the best offensive line in college football. It'll be interesting to see if Mikial Kamara, James Carpenter and the IU defense can dominate in the trenches with the Buckeyes being thin on the front line.
"Jackson, Siereveld, Hinzman, Tshabola, and Fryar is probably the right combination for what the Ohio State football team has to deal with right now. They don't have a lot of options. This is the worst possible time for this injury to occur. Seth McLaughlin has been one of the most important players on this team."Ryan Stano