Ohio State football lands transfer commitment from former Alabama starting center

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two days after adding a potential starting quarterback, Ohio State football also picked up the man who might snap him the ball.

Former Alabama center Seth McLaughlin committed to the Buckeyes on Saturday, as first reported by On3′s Hayes Fawcett. He gives OSU another experienced interior offensive line contender as it continues to seek stability up front.

McLaughlin started all 14 games at center for the SEC champions this past season, as well as eight games in 2022. Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye will either need to work with McLaughlin on his snapping issues — which showed up repeatedly, including in the Rose Bowl playoff semifinal loss to Michigan — or perhaps include him in the mix to replace Matt Jones at right guard.

The 6-4, 305-pound McLaughlin, a native of Buford, Georgia, has one season of eligibility remaining.

Ohio State could return four of five starting positions on the offensive line in left tackle Josh Simmons, left guard Donovan Jackson, center Carson Hinzman and right tackle Josh Fryar. However, the season-ending performance in the Cotton Bowl reinforced the need to upgrade across the board, either through internal competition or the transfer portal.

McLaughlin is the third transfer offensive lineman added since the end of last season, but the first from a Power 5 program.

This is the second transfer addition of the winter for Ohio State. Former Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek also committed last week.