Alabama football center Seth McLaughlin is expected to enter the transfer portal according to the Tuscaloosa News. He had been the Crimson Tide’s starter at that position for the past two seasons.

McLaughlin struggled in Alabama’s College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Michigan on Monday. He had multiple errant snaps, which backed the Tide up offensively throughout the game.

The Buford, Ga. native did not speak with reporters after the game, but quarterback Jalen Milroe commented on the matter.

“The quarterback and the center have to have a great relationship and that’s something that we tried to build throughout the whole season,” Milroe said. “There’s a multitude of things that me and Seth talk about in that regard. That’s something that we do talk about.”

The snaps were an issue throughout the season for McLaughlin. He switched to a different snapping style midway through, which seemed to alleviate some of the problem, which crept up again, first in the Auburn game, helping lead to the 4th-and-31 situation Alabama scored from, then in the postseason.

McLaughlin took over at center for Alabama in the 2021 Iron Bowl against Auburn before performing well against Georgia in the SEC title game that season. He did not have as big of a problem with bad snaps in 2021 or 2022.

Outside of football, McLaughlin had tried to make a difference in the Tuscaloosa community. He used his NIL opportunities to sell his signature “Run The Damn Ball” hat, using the proceeds to support the West Alabama Food Bank.

He will enter the portal after his redshirt junior season, with a year of eligibility remaining. Alabama receiver Shazz Preston and tight end Miles Kitselman already confirmed their plan to enter the portal

Alabama players received an extra window of portal entry due to participating in the playoff. Members of the Crimson Tide have through Saturday to enter the portal.