Ohio State is now down two offensive linemen for the rest of the 2024 season.
According to multiple reports, star center Seth McLaughlin suffered a torn Achilles during practice on Tuesday. McLaughlin has been one of the best centers in the country this season.
McLaughlins injury comes as Ohio State had shuffled its offensive line around following a knee injury to left tackle Josh Simmons at Oregon. Guard Donovan Jackson, who had an early season injury of his own, has played left tackle in Simmons absence.
A fifth-year senior, McLaughlin transferred to Ohio State over the offseason. He came from Alabama, where he was the teams starting center during Nick Sabans final season. McLaughlin made 24 starts in his career at Alabama and appeared in 35 games in four seasons before arriving in Columbus.
His injury means No. 2 Ohio State will be doing more moving around on its offensive line ahead of Saturdays big game against No. 5 Indiana. According to Rivals Dotting the Eyes, Carson Hinzman seems like the best option to take McLaughlins spot at center.
Hinzman has been starting at guard with Jackson at tackle. He was the teams starting center as a redshirt freshman in 2023.
From Dotting the Eyes:
Ohio States offense is averaging 5.3 yards per carry this season and over seven yards a play. The Buckeyes have been powered by a run game that features both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. The Ole Miss transfer is the teams leading rusher with 121 carries for 723 yards and Henderson has 89 carries for 662 yards. No other player on the team has 200 yards.