Ohio State football’s new ‘player-coach’ could be the secret weapon to beating Tennessee

Posted by author December 17, 2024 Football

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Seth McLaughlin was inside Bryant-Denny Stadium with a cigar in his left hand last year. Standing alongside five of his former Alabama teammates, he posed for a photo.

It created a snapshot depicting what the third Saturday in October is supposed to look like in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

It’s an annual tradition in the rivalry between Alabama and Tennessee. The winning team celebrates in style, filling the air with smoke from the cigars gripped between their fingers.

McLaughlin experienced three wins against the Vols in his four seasons with the Crimson Tide – the final one coming last year before he helped lead Alabama to the College Football Playoff prior to transferring.

On Saturday, he should be getting an unplanned chance at beating Tennessee again.

The Vols are coming to Columbus for a matchup with Ohio State in the first round of the CFP.

McLaughlin will be sidelined as he continues to nurse the Achilles tendon he tore last month. But his presence, albeit limited from a physical sense, will be felt.

Ohio State has a new coach, though he’s still a student-athlete, who knows Tennessee as well as anyone.

“He’s played against this team many times being at his former institution,” left tackle Donovan Jackson said. “He’s just given us insight on what we need to do to compete at the highest level against this (defensive) line.”

McLaughlin came to Ohio State with 1,834 snaps worth of collegiate experience.

He proved to be a strong addition for the Buckeyes from the portal despite the return of Carson Hinzman – last year’s starting center.

McLaughlin anchored a unit that faced a variety of injuries, earning himself the Rimington Award as the nation’s top center despite missing the last two games of the regular season.

He was expected to be a driving force in front of quarterback Will Howard as Ohio State embarked on the postseason.

Though he’s sidelined, he’s utilizing a new role.

“Obviously, we miss Seth out on the field, but you can still feel him in the room,” Howard said. “He’s a coach, man. He’s transitioned into kind of a player-coach almost at this point. He’s just one of those guys that wants to contribute any way he can. I know he’s hurting. He wants to be out there.”

McLaughlin has remained a respected voice inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

He continues to provide intel during meetings while giving Hinzman and other interior offensive linemen a veteran to turn to for advice.

He isn’t tossing snaps back to Howard, but he’s a tool for Ohio State as it prepares for Tennessee.

Well, that is unless the Georgia native is asked to brave the elements.

“He’s always here – maybe not in the outdoor practices,” Jackson said with a smirk. “He doesn’t really go out to those.”