The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
McLaughlin keeps running and running
Hard-working NDC back piling up yards at record pace
First impressions — good or bad — can last a lifetime.
This one is definitely fits in the “good” category for Jimmy Burchett.
Burchett — an All-America offensive lineman for Notre Dame College — remembers well the first day of Falcons’ practice in the summer of 2018. Burchett was a sophomore at the time, and he and the rest of the non-freshmen teammates watched as the first-year players ran 10 half-gassers.
“Jaleel came in and won every single rep. He didn’t stop at 10,” said Burchett, who prepped at St. Thomas Aquinas. “He ran the last six with the upperclassmen, and won those six as well.”
Jaleel McLaughlin didn’t stop running that day, and he hasn’t stopped running since as an All-America running back who seemingly sets records at every turn, juke and long touchdown run.
“As for first impressions, that’s about as good as it gets,” said Burchett.
McLaughlin’s secret to success isn’t complicated. Since Day 1 upon his arrival at NDC from Marshville, N.C., he’s been driven to outwork all.
“I wanted to play, I told my mom that,” said the 5-foot9, 175-pounder. “I knew to do that, I had to work hard. Outwork everyone, and show these guys I’m not just a freshman. I want to do what the upperclassmen are doing and whatever I have to do to get on the field.”
Fewer than two seasons later, he’s piling up yards and touchdowns at a staggering pace. On Nov. 2 in a win at Frostburg State, McLaughlin became the Mountain East Conference’s all-time leading rusher in just 23 games. His career marks are currently at 4,079 rushing yards and 43 total touchdowns. This season, he has 1,658 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns in nine games.
He needs 342 yards this season to become the first player in NCAA history — regardless of division — to rush for at least 2,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. As a freshman in 2018, McLaughlin rushed for 2,421 yards.
The nation is taking notice. In a recent issue of Sports Illustrated, McLaughlin was featured in the magazine’s popular “Faces in the Crowd.” A follow-up story in another SI issue had the headline, “Small back, big numbers.”
There’s also been a long list of NCAA, conference and NDC marks records set along the way. A sampling:
• He was the only player in 2018 in all divisions to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards.
• He was third in the voting for 2108 Harlon Hill Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top player in Division II, and might be the leading candidate this season.
• He set the NCAA D-II record for most rushing yards in a players’ first game (302 vs. Shepherd, Sept. 1, 2018), rushing yards by a freshman (2,421) and all-purpose yards by a freshman (2,699).
All of which seems lost on McLaughlin. That’s because he would rather credit his offensive line, and an another unlikely unit — the Falcons’ defense.
“That defense made me the player I am today,” said McLaughlin.
NDC defensive end Sha’Haun Williams, yet another All-American from 2018, appreciates that comment from his teammate, but looking back to the preseason camp two Augusts ago he said there was more confusion and doubt from him and the rest of the defense while trying to contain the relatively unknown freshman at the time.
“He had all of us on the defense the first few days like, ‘What’s going on? What’s wrong with us? What are we doing?’ “said Williams, a Youngstown Ursuline product. “He was breaking runs every day in practice. As practices went, we were like, ‘OK, maybe Jaleel is really going to be something great.’ We just started to notice that later in camp. He’s just a phenomenal athlete. He’s gifted.”
All the while, NDC coach Mike Jacobs has marveled at the exploits of his running back. After McLaughlin set the conference mark for rushing yards on Nov. 2, he awarded McLaughlin the game ball. It’s something he’s never done in his career.
“An actual game ball, that’s pretty great,” said McLaughlin. “That’s a first. I have it in my closet.”
The Falcons can clinch their second straight outright MEC title with a win at home Nov. 9 against Glenville State, and then possibly a second straight 11-0 regular season with victory at West Virginia State Nov. 16. A sub-plot during the next two games is if McLaughlin can get those 342 rushing yards for the magical mark of 2,000 in a second straight season.
“We track it more than Jaleel does,” said Burchett of the race to 2,000. “Those are milestones we try to get for him.”
McLaughlin said he’s more concerned with his work ethic than milestones, but did admit he is hopeful for 2,000 so he can enjoy it with his O-line.
“I feel like that would be great,” he said. “I always say, those guys deserve that. I’m not the only guy out there. Those guys are doing anything they can for me. Even the little things that people don’t really see — like picking up off the ground after a run — are great.”
Speaking of his work ethic, it’s beginning to be “a thing” at NDC. The Falcons practice in the mornings at Mueller Field, but that doesn’t mean McLaughlin’s routine at the stadium is done each day before noon.
Whether it’s running the bleachers in the mid-afternoon or working on his cuts, angles on runs or handoffs with a teammate or by himself at about 7 each evening, there’s seemingly never a part of the day in which the running back isn’t working or thinking about his craft.
“Just trying to be the best I can be. Every day,” said McLaughlin.
To which Jacobs just smiles.
“He’s tireless,” he said. “There’s want and drive in him that’s really special.”