COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State University football center Seth McLaughlin has been named a finalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, the nation’s premier scholar-athlete award. The award, announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame, annually recognizes the nation’s best football scholar-athlete – all divisions and the NAIA – based on combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
McLaughlin and the 15 other finalists will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments, and they will travel to Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. One member of the class will be selected the winner of the 35th William V. Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
McLaughlin, from Buford, Georgia, is the 23rd NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Ohio State. Ohio State and this week’s opponent, Nebraska, are tied for the most NFF National Scholar-Athletes.
Ohio State’s 23 NFF National Scholar-Athletes
2024 Seth McLaughlin
2019 Jordan Fuller
2015 Jacoby Boren
2008 Brian Robiskie
2003 Craig Krenzel
1999 Ahmed Plummer
1996 Greg Bellisari
1995 Bobby Hoying
1994 Joey Galloway
1992 Greg Smith
1990 Greg Frey
1989 Joe Staysniak
1985 Mike Lanese
1984 Dave Crecelius
1983 John Frank
1982 Joe Smith
1979 Jim Laughlin
1975 Brian Baschnagel
1973 Randy Gradishar
1970 Rex Kern
1968 David Foley
1965 Willard Sander
1964 Arnold Chonko
Graduating summa cum laude from Alabama after only 2.5 years and with a perfect 4.00 GPA in 2022, McLauglin continued his studies while playing for the Crimson Tide, earning a master’s in sport hospitality management last December. A 2023 CSC First Team Academic All-American, McLaughlin began working on a third degree in human development and family services after transferring to Ohio State for the 2024 spring semester. A two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, McLauglin made the SEC Academic Honor Roll four times, the President’s List four times and the Dean’s List at Alabama.
“Seth is a young man who has distinguished himself athletically, academically and leadership-wise, and I congratulate him and the 15 other outstanding student-athletes who are finalists for this most prestigious award,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said. “The entire Ohio State football program is extremely proud of Seth and for his family.”
Through Week 8 of this year, McLauglin has helped the Buckeyes to a 5-1 record and a No. 4 national ranking. He has been named a first-team Midseason All-American by six organizations: Associated Press, The Athletic, CBS Sports, The Sporting News, Athlon and The Senior Bowl. He is also on the watch list of the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s best center.
McLauglin has helped Ohio State rank sixth nationally in both total offense and scoring offense, with averages of 503 yards per game and 43.5 points per game, and the Buckeyes are one of five teams with a red zone success rate of 100 pct. Additionally, Ohio State’s offensive line is a quarterfinalist for the Joe Moore Award, ranks seventh nationally by allowing just five quarterback sacks all season, and ranks third nationally in fewest TFLs allowed (16).
Active in the community, McLauglin volunteered at the OSU 4-miler benefitting the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center, and he took part in the Run Out 5K for muscular dystrophy. His other volunteer work has included Habitat for Humanity; Read Across America; Alberta Head Start; and the Veterans Administration Medical Center.
McLaughlin is seeking to become Ohio State’s third winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy, joining Bobby Hoying (1995) and Craig Krenzel (2003).
The 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class
- Tahj Brooks, RB – Texas Tech (3.55 GPA – Sport Management)
- Robert Coury, LB – Carnegie Mellon [PA] (3.97 GPA – Mechanical Engineering)
- Jaxson Dart, QB – Ole Miss (3.71 GPA – Business)
- Beau Freyler, DB – Iowa State (3.91 GPA – Kinesiology)
- Dillon Gabriel, QB – Oregon (3.43 GPA – Multidisciplinary Studies)
- Ashton Gillotte, DL – Louisville (3.69 GPA – Communications)
- Brody Grebe, DE – Montana State (3.93 GPA – Mechanical Engineering)
- Mark Gronowski, QB – South Dakota State (3.76 GPA – Mechanical Engineering)
- Terrance Hollon, LB – Howard (3.90 GPA – Health Science)
- Jack Kiser, LB – Notre Dame (3.82 GPA – Business Analytics)
- Luke Lehnen, QB – North Central [IL] (3.76 GPA – Exercise Science)
- Brayden Long, QB – Slippery Rock [PA] (4.00 GPA – Sport Management)
- Jake Majors, C – Texas (3.65 GPA – Business Management)
- Seth McLaughlin, C – Ohio State (4.00 GPA – Finance
- Jalen Milroe, QB – Alabama (3.52 GPA – Management)
- Jackson Woodard, LB – UNLV (3.77 GPA – Kinesiology)
Most NFF National Scholar-Athletes
23 – Ohio State
23 – Nebraska
20 – Notre Dame
20 – Penn State
16 – Army
15 – Stanford
15 – Georgia
13 – Air Force
13 – USC
13 – Yale
12 – Texas
11 – Missouri
11 – Oklahoma
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