Terry McLaurin

Terry McLaurin (born September 15, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was drafted by Washington in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. McLaurin made the 2023 Pro Bowl and is the only player in Washington history to record four straight 1,000 yard seasons.

Early life
McLaurin was born on September 15, 1995, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He won the state's Mr. Football Award in 2013 while playing football for Cathedral High School. McLaurin was regarded as a four-star recruit in the class of 2014 according to the 247Sports Composite.

College career
McLaurin redshirted his freshman season in 2014. As a redshirt freshman for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2015, McLaurin appeared in six games and recorded seven tackles and a fumble recovery. As a sophomore in 2016, he recorded 11 receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. As a junior in 2017, he recorded 29 receptions for 436 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns in 13 games. As a senior in 2018, he recorded 35 receptions for 701 yards and 11 touchdowns.

2019
McLaurin was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the third round (76th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. With their first round pick in the same draft, the Redskins also drafted McLaurin's college quarterback, Dwayne Haskins. He signed his four-year rookie contract on June 6, 2019.

Due to a strong training camp performance, McLaurin was named a Week 1 starter. McLaurin made his NFL debut in the opening game of the 2019 season against the Philadelphia Eagles. There, he recorded five receptions for 125 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown. He added to that by catching at least five passes and a touchdown over the next two games, making him the first player in league history to achieve such a feat in their first three career appearances.

In Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins, McLaurin caught four receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins won their first game of the season. During Week 15 against the Eagles, McLaurin finished with five receptions for 130 receiving yards, including a 75-yard touchdown. He finished the season with 58 receptions for 919 yards and seven touchdowns and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

2020
In Week 2, McLaurin recorded seven receptions for 125 receiving yards and his first touchdown of the season during a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. In a Week 4 loss against the Baltimore Ravens, McLaurin recorded 10 receptions for 118 yards. Following a season ending injury to team captain Landon Collins in October 2020, McLaurin was unanimously voted by his teammates to replace him. In a Week 9 loss against the New York Giants, he had seven receptions for 115 receiving yards and a touchdown. He suffered a high ankle sprain against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15 and missed the following game against the Carolina Panthers as a result. Despite the team's unstable quarterback situation, he would finish the season with 1,118 yards and four touchdowns. The team won the NFC East division, with McLaurin recording six catches for 75 yards in a 31–23 Wildcard loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2021
In March 2021, Curtis Samuel signed a three-year contract with the Washington Football Team, reuniting McLaurin with his college roommate and fellow receiver. In a Week 2 game against the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football, McLaurin caught 11 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown in a 30–29 victory. McLaurin recorded 123 yards off of six receptions and two touchdowns in the Week 4 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He recorded 103 yards off of three receptions and a touchdown in the 27–21 Week 11 win over the Carolina Panthers, this would be his fourth 100-plus yard game in the season. McLaurin left in the third quarter of the Week 14 game against the Dallas Cowboys due to a concussion. In the 2021 season, McLaurin started in all 17 games. He recorded 77 receptions for 1,053 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.

2022
An impending free agent after the season, McLaurin decided against participating in on-field offseason workouts. On July 5, 2022, McLaurin signed a three-year contract extension worth $71 million with a $28 million signing bonus. In the 2022 season opening win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, he recorded 58 receiving yards off two receptions as well as a 49-yard touchdown reception. The Week 8 game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium was the first time in McLaurin's professional career that he played in his hometown of Indianapolis. With the Commanders losing and 40 seconds remaining in the game, McLaurin made a critical 33-yard contested catch which set up the Commanders to score a one-yard rushing touchdown on the next play and winning the game with a final score of 17–16. He finished the game with 113 yards off six receptions against the Colts. McLaurin had eight receptions for a season-best 128 yards on Monday Night Football as the Commanders ended the Eagles' undefeated start to the season in Week 10. He finished the season with 77 receptions, a career-high 1,191 yards, and five touchdowns, and was also voted to his first Pro Bowl.

2023
McLaurin achieved his career high single game receiving yards record in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams, during the game he hauled in 6 receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown. He finished the season with four touchdowns and 1,002 yards, making him the first Washington player to record four straight 1,000 yard seasons.

Personal life
McLaurin has been called by several nicknames during his NFL career, such as "Scary Terry", "F1", and "The Captain". He established the Terry McLaurin Foundation to help disadvantaged kids in the Washington metropolitan area. He also has a cereal named after him called Terry McLaurin's Crunch Time.