Youngstown State running back Jaleel McLaughlin was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Year, the conference announced on Monday afternoon.
McLaughlin becomes the first Penguin to be named the MVFC's Offensive Player of the Year since 2006 and just the third overall since YSU joined the conference in 1997. He joins fellow YSU decorated running backs Marcus Mason (2006) and PJ Mays (2001) in being named the league's top offensive performer.
McLaughlin becomes the first running back to be named the league' top offensive player since 2015 (Illinois State's Marshaun Coprich). Quarterbacks have been the top pick each of the past six years. Three of the last seven running backs to earn the award since 2001 came from YSU.
A 2021 first-team All-MVFC and third-team All-America selection, McLaughlin finished posted even more impressive numbers during his final campaign at YSU. In 2022, he rushed for 1,588 yards on 227 carries and scored 13 touchdowns. Against strong MVFC competition, he had 1,220 yards on 184 attempts and nine scores while averaging 152.5 yards in eight league games. He rushed for more than 200 yards on four occasions and had eight 100-yard plus games this past fall.
In his five-year NCAA career, which includes two years at Notre Dame (Ohio) prior to coming to YSU, he rushed for an NCAA all-division record of 8,166 yards on 1,250 carries while scoring 79 touchdowns. In his three seasons as a Penguin, he rushed for 3,418 yards on 535 attempts and had 30 touchdowns.
McLaughlin is also among 30 finalists for the 2022 Walter Payton Award which is which is annually presented to the national offensive player of the year in the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision.
