2025 Bengals Participant Profile: Offensive Lineman Seth McLaughlin
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Seth McLaughlin spent 4 seasons at Alabama earlier than transferring to Ohio State in 2024. He gained the Rimington Award, given to the perfect middle in school soccer, regardless of struggling a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season early in November.
As a result of uncertainty surrounding his damage, he went undrafted and was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent.
Seth McLaughlin
- Top: 6’4”
- Weight: 304
- Age: 23
- Yr: fifth -year Senior
- RAS: **Did Not Take a look at/Injured
Background
Seth McLaughlin was a 3-star recruit and the lowest-rated recruit in Alabama’s class that season. Regardless of that, he labored his manner right into a beginning function by the top of his redshirt freshman season.
He went on to start out 24 video games at middle throughout his time with the Crimson Tide. In 2024, he entered the switch portal and shortly landed at Ohio State.
He was taking part in the perfect soccer of his profession in the course of the 2024 season earlier than struggling a torn Achilles throughout observe in mid-November. Even after the damage, he demonstrated management and character by staying with the workforce and serving to them put together for the rest of the season and the School Soccer Playoff.
That preparation paid off when Ohio State went on to win the Nationwide Championship. Seth was additionally acknowledged for his efficiency previous to the damage, profitable the Rimington Award, incomes All-Massive Ten honors, and being named a consensus All-American.
Regardless of the damage, Seth was nonetheless seen as a possible Day 3 draft decide. Nevertheless, he went undrafted and was later signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s anticipated to make a full restoration and has said he’s on schedule to be cleared for full contact by July.
Strengths
- Affected person and in management always as a blocker
- Expertise (began 34 video games at middle)
- Blocking on the transfer and on the second degree
- Solely allowed seven whole pressures and nil sacks in 2024
- Widespread workforce chief
- Educational and Soccer IQ
- Rimington Award winner, though he solely performed 10 video games, First-team Massive Ten, and was a consensus All-American in 2024
Weaknesses
- Arm size (31”)
- Snap points throughout his final season at Alabama in 2023
- Positional versatility is restricted (he has performed completely at middle)
- Torn Achilles in November 2024
- Older prospect (will flip 24 in August)
- Questions on his decrease physique energy
Outlook
The Bengals ought to be thrilled to land a participant with the expertise, management, and soccer IQ that Seth McLaughlin possesses as an undrafted free agent. If it weren’t for his damage, he doubtless would have been drafted within the third or fourth spherical.
How shortly he can get wholesome and return to the shape he confirmed with the Buckeyes in 2024 will doubtless decide whether or not he has a sensible probability to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster or if he finally ends up competing extra for a observe squad spot in his first season.
Both manner, I anticipate the Bengals to maintain McLaughlin round, and I can see him being within the combine a 12 months or two from now to contend for a beginning spot at middle.
