Offensive linemen rarely get the flowers they deserve. Often, centers are the overlooked cog in the machine unless something goes awry. The Rimington Trophy tries to give college football centers the attention they deserve. Named after the Outland Trophy’s only two-time winner, Dan Rimington, the Rimington Trophy highlights a consensus All-American at the position.
This year, the finalists were Tennessee’s Cooper Mays, Western Michigan’s Jacob Gideon, and Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin. After the Rimington Trophy committee looked at the four recognized All-American lists, McLaughlin was deemed the winner.
The senior leader on the Buckeye offensive line becomes the fourth Ohio State center to win the award since its inception in 2000. McLaughlin joins LeCharles Bently (2001), Pat Elflein (2016), and Billy Price (2017).
Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin Wins 2024 Rimington Trophy
McLaughlin transferred to Ohio State from Alabama after four years with the Crimson Tide. However, before suiting up for Ohio State, McLaughlin was a 24-game starter at Alabama.
Unfortunately, after 10 games, McLaughlin suffered a torn Achilles in the practice week leading up to the matchup with Indiana, thus ending his season. Despite a truncated season, McLaughlin racked in honors. In addition to being named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, he was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, earned a First-Team All-Big Ten selection, and numerous midseason All-American selections. Ohio State grades its players on a week-by-week basis and McLaughlin graded out as a “champion” in all 10 games.
Ultimately, McLaughlin had an incredible season and he is likely headed for numerous All-American selections as the dust settles. He logged 207 pass-blocking snaps this year. In total, he allowed four pressures and no sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
He led a unit that was named a Joe Moore Award semifinalist and finished fourth in the country with just 42 tackles for loss allowed. The 13 sacks allowed as a unit was the 16th fewest.
McLaughlin already has two degrees (finance and a master’s in sports hospitality management) and has a perfect, 4.00 undergraduate grade point average.
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