Ohio State is now down two offensive linemen for the remainder of the 2024 season.
According to multiple reports, star center Seth McLaughlin suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice on Tuesday. McLaughlin was one of the best centers in the country this season.
McLaughlin’s injury comes after Ohio State shuffled its offensive line following a knee injury to left tackle Josh Simmons earlier this season at Oregon. Guard Donovan Jackson, who himself battled an injury early in the season, has played left tackle in Simmons’ absence.
McLaughlin, a fifth-year senior, transferred to Ohio State this offseason. He came from Alabama, where he was the team’s starting center during Nick Saban’s final season. McLaughlin made 24 starts at Alabama and played in 35 games in four seasons before arriving in Columbus.
His injury means No. 2 Ohio State will move more on its offensive line ahead of Saturday’s big game against No. 5 Indiana. According to Rivals’ Dotting the Eyes, Carson Hinzman appears to be “the best option” to take McLaughlin’s spot in the middle.
Hinzman started at guard while Jackson was at tackle. He was the team’s starting center as a redshirt freshman in 2023.
From stippling the eyes:
If Hinzman moves to center, second-year guard Austin Siereveld could fill in at left guard. Siereveld started the first two games as left guard in place of the injured Jackson and then alternated as right guard with Tegra Tshabola for a few games. In recent weeks, Siereveld has been used as a reserve until late in games, but he at least has starting experience at left guard.
Another option would be to keep Hinzman at left guard and move freshman Josh Padilla to center. Padilla didn’t play at all last year and has logged 29 snaps this year, including three last week against Northwestern.
Ohio State’s offense is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and over seven yards per play this season. The Buckeyes are powered by a run game with both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. The Ole Miss transfer is the team’s 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.
