Alex McLaughlin Wants To Be Even Bigger and Better

On Thursday night, Alex McLaughlin met with media members for a post-practice interview in the end zone, which was a most familiar place for the University of Washington senior safety during the 2025 season.

He twice ended up there, scoring on a 47-yard interception return against Washington State in the Apple Cup in Pullman and on a 59-yard fumble runback against UCLA in the Rose Bowl, both lopsided victories.

"It was being in the right place at the right time," he said. "I like scoring touchdowns."

For 12 months, the Northern Arizona transfer has been going places and coming up with big rewards

Alex McLaughlin (12) gets an earful from a Purdue player. | Dave Sizer photo

A year ago, McLaughlin spent much of spring football as the No. 4 safety behind the now departed Makell Esteen and Vince Holmes, plus then Florida International transfer CJ Christian, while getting acclimated to Montlake and Ryan Walters' defense.

Now he's the oldest and most decorated player at his position, coming off an All-Big Ten honorable-mention season as determined by both the coaches and the media.

"This is the first year where I've been the oldest guy in the room so I really want to elevate my leadership," he said.

He's also been working on increasing his weight, trying to add 10 pounds to get to 210 on his 6-foot-2 frame, encouraged to do so by safeties coach Taylor Mays, who played at 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds as a three-time All-American at USC and an NFL player.

"Physically, he's been able to, with this offseason, put his body together," Mays said approvingly. "He played the most snaps of anyone on the defense, 880 snaps. You have to be physically built to do that. He's been able to put some muscle on."

Alex McLaughlin celebrates his 47-yard interception return for a touchdown against WSU in the Apple Cup. | Dave Sizer photo

Last season, McLaughlin was the youngest player in the Husky secondary, often starting alongside cornerbacks Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis and fellow safety Esteen, all seniors, and playing well enough to be named the Huskies' defensive MVP for the season.

McLaughlin topped the Huskies with 93 tackles, coming up with a season high for anyone on the team with 13 against Ohio State and finishing with 12 against Illinois.

Now he's the old guy in the lineup, teaming with sophomore Rylon "Batman" Dillard-Allen at safety and sophomore Dylan Robinson and junior Virginia transfer Manny Karnley at the corners.

Making yet another adjustment to his game, McLaughlin traded in his jersey No. 12 this spring for 7, which was his high school number but belonged last season to the now departed Prysock. He's probably earned it. He's a team headliner now.

"I think I'm playing a lot more confident," he said. "We want to be the best defense in the country. We were pretty good last year."

So was McLaughlin. He's got the touchdowns, the tackles and the honors to prove it.