McLaughlin Named First-Team All-American by HERO Sports
12/8/2022 12:03:00 PM | Football
Youngstown State senior running back Jaleel McLaughlin was named a first-team All-FCS All-American by HERO Sports, the service announced on Thursday. It marks the first time in his impressive YSU career that McLaughlin has been named first-team All-American.
McLaughlin is joined in the All-America backfield by Monmouth's Jaden Shirden and NDSU fullback Hunter Luepke. McLaughlin and Shirden were among the top rushers in the FCS consistently throughout the season.
The 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, McLaughlin is YSU's first first-team All-America selection since Mychal Savage in 2009. He is the first running back to be tabbed first-team All-American since Marcus Mason in 2006.
A finalist for the Walter Payton award, he rushed for 1,588 yards on 227 carries and scored 13 touchdowns in 2022. 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 2021, he was a third-team All-America selection.
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 8,155 yards on 1,258 carries while scoring 78 touchdowns. In his three seasons as a Penguin, he rushed for 3,418 yards on 535 attempts and had 30 touchdowns.
