From now until the 2025 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Ohio State offensive lineman Seth McLaughlin.
#56 SETH McLAUGHLIN/OL OHIO STATE – 6040, 304 POUNDS (Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Seth McLaughlin 6040/304 9 1/2 31 78 1/4
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
The Good
– Above-average frame with height falling in the 79th percentile and weight falling in the 68th percentile
– Academically smart, which translates to the field at a position that desires intelligence
– Aside from 2023, only had four penalties across four seasons
– Gets hands inside well
– Looks quick in open space and is comfortable pulling
– Does a good job at finding work in the second level
– Shows promise as a run blocker
– Knows how to be part of a winning team, winning a high school state title and two national championships in college
– Showed great improvement in his final season
– Flashes good lateral agility and mirroring
The Bad
– Struggled with low snaps in his career
– Penalties were an issue in 2023 when he had seven
– Struggles with keeping defenders in his frame
– Loses ground in pass protection when put on an island, which results him being thrown back into the quarterback
– Lacks ideal initial pop on contact
– Missing the desired length for a prospect
– Has not shown versatility along the line by playing other positions in his career
Bio
– 24 games started for Alabama from 2020-23 and 10 games started for Ohio State in 2024
– Exclusively a center in college, never playing a snap at another spot (2,399 offensive snaps)
– 2024 season-ending torn Achilles tendon injury during practice on Nov. 19
– Three-star C in his 2020 high school class from Buford, Ga.
– Won a high school state championship in 2019 and as a senior only allowed one sack
– In an interview said that his address got leaked after he was the main one blamed for the Alabama Rose Bowl loss
– Chose to transfer to Ohio State due to having struggles in his final year at Alabama and wanting to prove to NFL scouts that he can play at a high level; said if he couldn’t play well at Ohio State, he wasn’t going to get drafted anyway
– Ohio State head coach Ryan Day says that McLaughlin struggled at Alabama due to the clap snap count
– Graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2.5 years from Alabama with a 4.0 grade point average and a degree in finance as well as completing his Master’s degree in December 2023
– 2x CFP national champion (2020, 2024), consensus All-American (2024), Rimington Trophy (2024), and first-team All-Big Ten (2024)
Tape Breakdown
Getting Seth McLaughlin moving and in the open space is where I feel he is best. Here against Iowa, he is the pulling lead blocker for Will Howard. He gets out well with solid speed to make contact and get movement on the defender. While it may not have been with the best pop on initial contact, he still did his job and did it well.
pic.twitter.com/GlLgVziVoN
— Steven (@Elspedd) March 26, 2025
Here is a similar clip highlighting McLaughlin’s ability once you get him moving, this time to the second level. Exceptionally quick off the line, he meets his defender in the second level and prevents him from being able to explode off the snap and meet the runner. The quickness McLaughlin showed on this play is outstanding.
pic.twitter.com/WJr1g2M35Y
— Steven (@Elspedd) March 26, 2025
Though I am not high on McLaughlin as a pass protector yet, he definitely shows promise in that area. Here, he shifts right to pick up a 340-pound defender. On this play it is just him and the defender on an island and McLaughlin holds his own despite being noticeably lighter. This shows his ability to handle bigger defenders one on one.
pic.twitter.com/jbwHNfVxWB
— Steven (@Elspedd) March 26, 2025
When I mention McLaughlin’s intelligence and how that translates to the field, it is noticeable. Earlier in this Penn State game, Zane Durant (No. 28) beat McLaughlin by crossing his face and using a swim move to get in the backfield to record a tackle for loss. Later, Durant tries a similar attack, but McLaughlin notices this and is ready for it. He seals him Durant, which creates a massive running lane. McLaughlin’s ability to take Durant out of this play was huge and shows his ability to not make the same mistake twice.
pic.twitter.com/pTOA4tMBMx
— Steven (@Elspedd) March 26, 2025
Finally, I think it is important to acknowledge the struggles McLaughlin had at Alabama. In this clip, Alabama is in the biggest game of its season against the undefeated Michigan Wolverines. At midfield, Alabama is trailing by three points in the third quarter and looking to score on this drive. That is when McLaughlin messes up the snap count and the ball goes rolling below Jalen Milroe’s feet. This forces Alabama into a very tough second-down situation. This drive would eventually end in a punt on 4th and 22.
pic.twitter.com/9hXBHgt32J
— Steven (@Elspedd) March 26, 2025
Conclusion
Seth McLaughlin is a tough prospect to gauge. His intelligence and massive improvement during the 2024 season are very intriguing. However, you can’t ignore his time at Alabama where the film looked worrisome.
At Alabama it was clear that he had an issue with low snaps, penalties, and pass protection. He is self-aware of his struggles and that is what compelled him to transfer to Ohio State. Despite Nick Saban consistently telling McLaughlin that he didn’t want him to transfer, McLaughlin saw it as an opportunity to revitalize his career. Stating that if he couldn’t play well at Ohio State, it was okay because he was not getting drafted anyway.
McLaughlin went on to have a great 2024 season. Despite playing only 10 games, he was a consensus All-American, won the Rimington Trophy, and was part of a national championship team. However, he tore his Achilles in November, which leaves his draft status up in the air.
My pro comparison for McLaughlin is Luke Wypler. They are similar in size with McLaughlin being slightly bigger. When reviewing the report I did on Wypler coming out of college, I gave him similar strengths and weaknesses that I saw in McLaughlin. Wypler played exclusively center in his time at Ohio State from 2020-22. I mentioned how I was worried about potential penalties being called on him and not having a great initial pop. Some things I liked about Wypler were the obvious intelligence he played with on a consistent basis, and he was solid in open space. Like Wypler, I see McLaughlin being a Day 3 pick due to his struggles at Alabama.
Projection: Day 3
Depot Draft Grade: 6.6 – 5th round (Backup/Special Teamer)
Games Watched: Iowa (2024), Penn State (2024), Oregon (2024), Texas (2023), Michigan (2023)
Recommended for you