Moving Forward – Lucas Wants More After All-America Freshman Season
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - All-America honors come for Jaylin Lucas and satisfaction isn’t part of the plan. There’s too much to do, too much improvement to make, too many ways to help Indiana football win.
So here is Lucas, about 90 minutes before the start of the Hoosiers Sunday basketball victory over No. 18 Wisconsin, in the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall press room contemplating honors from a freshman season to remember.
“I’m starting to realize my work is paying off,” the standout kick returner and running back says. “It’s going to continue.”
The 5-9, 170-pound Lucas is one of 32 members of the Football Writers Association of America freshman All-America team.
How big is this? The only other Hoosiers to receive this recognition were tight end Ted Bolser in 2010 and linebacker John Kerr in 2002.
Lucas joins Penn State’s K.J. Hamler in 2018 as the only Big Ten kick returners to earn FWAA honors.
Lucas previously was the first IU return specialist to make All-Big Ten and the first true freshman to win the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year award.
Lucas’s numbers back up the honors. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns -- 93 yards against Rutgers and 88 yards against Michigan State. Only Marcus Thigpen, who returned three for TDs in 2006, has returned more for IU in a season.
Lucas averaged 28.1 yards per return to rank fourth nationally. His 591 kickoff return yards led the Big Ten.
This wasn’t surprising. He returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns during a standout high school career in Louisiana that included finishing sixth in the Louisiana state 100-meter dash as a senior.
What’s the secret to breaking a big kickoff return?
“Visualize the blocking schemes,” he says. “I mentally prepare before the game by catching kickoffs and punts, and visualize myself running it back. I always practice my running fades and attacking the blocking frame ups.”
Most importantly, he adds, “I try to use my speed to my advantage.”
IU utilized that speed more and more as last season progressed. As the No. 3 running back behind Shaun Shivers and Josh Henderson, Lucas added 271 rushing yards and 82 receiving yards for a team-leading 994 all-purpose yards. Take his 71-yard rushing touchdown against Purdue and he had three scoring plays of more than 70 yards. The last Hoosier to do that in a season was Tevin Coleman in 2014.
More is wanted and needed. Improvement starts, Lucas says, with consistency and focus.
“Block out all the noise and keep moving forward.”
That process has already started with off-season workouts.
“This morning I put in extra work. Doing that with my (football) brothers every day and making sure we don’t have another losing season.”
Lucas says he learned a lot from Shivers and Henderson.
“Shawn taught me everything, like learning how to read (defensive) fronts. Just seeing him go through his run frame. He taught me how to jump cut through certain fronts. Josh encouraged me to use my speed. He said, ‘You’ve got speed as your advantage. Use it.’”
And so he has, with more coming. Lucas figures to get plenty of opportunities next season as a running back and receiver in offensive coordinator Walt Bell’s system.
“I hope it’s getting the ball a lot,” Lucas says. “Taking over the game. Overall, play well and put in extra work.”
Anything that gets Lucas the ball in open space, where he can best use his speed and elusiveness, is a big IU advantage. Slot receiver is a likely option.
“My interest in that role is very big,” he says. “You are going to see me spread out in the slot a little bit and you are going to see me in the backfield. I am just going to be all over the field, just being that main key factor.”
Pass protection improvement remains a big priority.
“That’s a big thing. I need to work on the little things. Everything matters and I just want to be perfect at all times. My main focus, though, is to win and have a winning program here.”
Why is Lucas a Hoosier?
Head coach Tom Allen and running backs coach Craig Johnson.
Allen’s Love Each Other philosophy -- and Johnson’s overall recruiting -- were too intriguing to pass up.
“I love Coach Allen, and Coach Johnson played a big role,” Lucas says. “I liked the atmosphere here.”
Lucas still does. Entering the transfer portal, as so many athletes do these days, wasn’t an option.
“Here at Indiana, it's just all love. This is the best fit for me. I can see myself building a legacy here.”
That legacy could include more Indiana victories. The Hoosiers seek to regain the winning edge from the 2019 and ‘20 seasons.
“I’ve got a lot of people looking up to me to step up,” Lucas says, “but this morning 75 percent of the team got that extra work in. We are taking this upcoming season differently. Everybody is ready to roll. Everybody is locked in.”
Veteran linebacker Aaron Casey is a catalyst for that extra work, Lucas adds.
“We talked about things that need to change. Extra work will count. It’s like, what are you doing when it’s dark? We’re attacking this season differently.”
A second year in Bell’s system, plus the addition of new offensive line coach Bob Bostad, a 33-year coaching veteran who was Wisconsin’s offensive line coach last season, and whose previous coaching stops included the NFL’s Tampa Bay and Tennessee organizations, has the Hoosiers optimistic.
“The offense will be way more experienced and humble,” Lucas says. “Everybody will be ready to execute.
“The O-line is going to be tough. We are going to be way more experienced. We’re going to take the other team into deep water.”