Youngstown State senior running back Jaleel McLaughlin has been invited to the 2023 Hula Bowl which will be played on Jan. 14 in Orlando, Fla.
McLaughlin currently ranks second this week in the FCS in rushing yards per game averaging 142.7 a contest. He trails Monmouth's Jaden Shirden who is at 144 per contest. In seven games, Shirden has 1,013 yards while McLaughlin is at 856 through six games.
In three MVFC contests this fall, McLaughlin has rushed for 488 yards (162.7 per game). His 32 carries vs. Indiana State were his most since Nov. 30, 2019 when he was at Notre Dame College.
The Hula Bowl is the Nation's Premier College Football All-Star Game. The Hula Bowl is an event where all NFL, XFL, USFL and CFL teams will be represented by top scout players during Hula Bowl week.
He now ranks fifth in NCAA history in career rushing yards with 7,434 yards on 1,138 carries (6.5 per rush) and 72 touchdowns in 51 games. He is the active career NCAA leader in attempts, touchdowns and yards. He is now just 89 yards from moving into fourth place all-time.
In 22 games at YSU, he has rushed for 2,686 yards (122 yards per game average) and scored 24 TDs. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in 16 of his last 21 contests at YSU, including five of six this season. In 28 games at Notre Dame, he had 24 100-yard outings. In 51 games, he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark on 40 occasions.
It marks the second straight season that YSU will be represented in the game. Last year, tight end Andrew Ogletree was part of Hula Bowl week. Previously, Kyle Smith (2006) and Dwyte Smiley (1999) played in the game.
Last year, McLaughlin was named first-team All-MVFC while earning third-team All-America honors by The Associated Press and HERO Sports.
