By Danielle Daniels

Has bachelor’s and master’s degrees already and a perfect, 4.0 undergrad grade point average

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State starting center Seth McLaughlin, a senior from Buford, Ga., and Buford High School, has been named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, the premier scholar-athlete award in college football.

The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership, and the candidates also comprise the pool of nominees for the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments.

McLaughlin graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2.5 years from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a perfect, 4.0 grade point average. He then promptly earned his master’s degree in sports hospitality management before transferring to Ohio State in January. He is now working on a third degree: in human development and family science.

A first-team College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American in 2023, McLaughlin’s impressive undergraduate academic accolades include being named to the President’s List (twice), Dean’s List and SEC Academic Honor Roll (three times).

McLaughlin has made 27 starts at Ohio State and Alabama and has played in 38 games overall. He is on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s outstanding center, for the second consecutive year.

Since arriving in Columbus in January, Seth has also been active in the community. He volunteered at the OSU 4-miler, which benefits the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, and took part in the annual Run Out 5K to support Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

This year marks the 66th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments and the 35th year of the Campbell Trophy®. The NFF will announce 12-15 finalists on Oct. 23, and each of finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. One of the finalists will be named the winner of the 35th Campbell Trophy® during the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10 and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.

Ohio State has two Campbell Trophy® winners: Bobby Hoying (1995) and Craig Krenzel (2003).

COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS