After not having the dominance of moving players off the football in 2022, Alabama’s offensive line may finish this season with the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s most outstanding unit.
Eric Wolford, the Crimson Tide’s offensive line, has everyone bought into toughness, physicality, discipline, and making opponents quit in the upcoming fall. Seth McLaughlin, a returning senior, shares Wolford’s passion of running the ball and imposing one’s will on its opponent. A native of Buford, Ga., McLaughlin has worn a “Run the Damn Ball” hat unashamed on campus — signaling what he wants the Tide to return to. Tommy Rees, Alabama’s offensive coordinator, had the same mindset and hat during his time at Notre Dame. Rees, Wolford, McLaughlin, and the Tide’s offensive line are on the same page.
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McLaughlin, a former three-star in the 2020 class, assisted the Tide to a College Football Playoff National Championship as a freshman, but he made his presence felt in 2021. The 6-foot-4, 301-pounder played in ten games — including three starts — with his best performances coming in the postseason. McLaughlin earned his first career start at center in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game versus Georgia. He handled Jordan Davis up front, allowing the Tide total 531 yards and 421 passing yards from Bryce Young. McLaughlin’s protection propelled Young to toss three touchdowns and rush for a fourth one.
He paced Brian Robinson to a 200-yard rushing performance (206) in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against Cincinnati and got Alabama to a CFP National Championship Game berth. McLaughlin played 11 games in 2022, including eight starts at center.
The departure of Young to the National Football League puts a lot of leadership on the offensive line. McLaughlin has been prepared for the moment with JC Latham and Tyler Booker. Nick Saban has mentioned to reporters that McLaughlin and other veterans have been on the younger players on buy-in. Saban loves the toughness of the group up front, and he praised his center.
“He does really, really, well,” Saban said about McLaughlin’s ability to communicate the calls at center.
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“He’s gotten bigger, he’s gotten stronger, and he’s always had a tremendous attitude. I don’t think anyone is ever going to go wrong hiring him. I don’t care what he ends up doing. He’s got the right stuff.”
Per Saban, McLaughlin, Booker, and Latham set the tone.
McLaughlin is a preseason candidate for the Rimington Trophy. The honor goes to the nation’s most outstanding center and Alabama’s had three players to earn the award. Barrett Jones (2012), Ryan Kelly (2015), and Landon Dickerson (2020) captured the Rimington Trophy for the Tide. McLaughlin has a shot to be next and we’ll see how he performs in Saturday’s scrimmage.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
