‘Go Time’ -- Call Jaylin Lucas ‘Small’ at Your Own Risk
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Looking down on Jaylin Lucas will cost you.
Focusing on the Indiana football standout’s 5-9, 166-pound frame and not his talent is a mistake.
And for those calling him small, although technically true amid college football’s big-size-matters reality, well, Lucas thrives on that.
“I’ve always been the underdog,” he says from last week’s Big Ten media day stage at Lucas Oil Stadium. “When the whistle blows and it’s go time, I am ready to prove that I am one of the most versatile players in this conference and in the country. Being called small my whole life drives me every day.”
Lucas proved it last season by earning All-America honors despite a limited role. He averaged 28.1-yards on kickoff returns, 5.5 yards per carry and caught 16 passes for 81 yards. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Lucas is among the reasons why head coach Tom Allen is optimistic about IU’s offensive potential. Lucas is part of a new-look wide receiver room deep in talent and big-play potential.
“It was something that we as a staff collectively identified trying to create explosive plays,” Allen says. “In football, there are two stats that really matter. The first is turnover ratio -- can you protect the football on offense; can you create takeaways on defense?
“Then, there’s the explosive-play ratio -- how many can you create on offense; how many can you prevent on defense?”
Allen says IU didn’t create enough big offensive plays last season, a major reason why it averaged just 23.3 points during a 4-8 season.
“It's hard to drive 75 yards on the defenses in the Big Ten. We wanted to get more receiver body types to help create more explosive plays. That was by design, even in the portal mindset, to go after that as well as recruiting (high school) guys.”
Better offensive line play is also a huge component of better offense.
“We know that,” Allen says. “We understand that. It's been addressed. Those guys have to step up. We’ve got several guys who have played a lot of football. I'm excited for that group to lead on offense.”
Hiring veteran offensive line coach Bob Bostad, who brings significant success at the college and NFL levels, has already had a major impact.
“Bob has a tremendous track record,” Allen says. “I already feel we've gotten better with certain things that he's brought.”
The return of all-conference-caliber offensive lineman Matthew Bedford also helps. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in last year’s opening win against Illinois.
“Getting Matt Bedford back is huge,” Allen says. “Losing him in Week One was a big blow; he was our best offensive lineman. He's back 100 percent, which is exciting.”
Bedford couldn’t participate in spring practice as a player, but he did work with the offensive linemen who could.
“The whole (offensive-line) group needs to be able to mesh with him,” Allen says. “He was with them all spring. He brought his thoughts and ideas, the toughness he brings, the attention to detail, the way he coaches them, and just the relentless way he approaches offensive line play.”
Defensively, Allen won’t call plays as he did last season. That job falls to new co-defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri.
Allen says the complexities of college coaching, which includes the transfer portal and the NIL in addition to stopping ever-more-explosive offenses, drove his decision.
“In order for us to get better and move forward, I wanted to bring somebody in to (call defensive plays).
“To become the best head coach I can be, the best game-day manager of the entire game, both sides of the football and special teams, it’s important for me not to be focused on calling the defense. I want the flexibility to be in the offensive and special team meetings. I think it makes us better.
“I'm really excited about Matt. I've known him for a long time. I'm excited about what he's brought to our program. He’s brought some ideas.”
Guerrieri’s energy and passion resonates with veteran players such as defensive back Noah Pierre.
“I love Coach G,” Pierre says. “He is a high-energy guy and I’m a high-energy guy, so we mesh well. He’s always bringing energy.”
IU will still retain Allen’s attacking style and system.
“Matt came to learn what we do,” Allen says. “We have a system we believe in and we'll make sure we stick with that because our players believe in it, and it fits our personnel.”
That will be crucial given IU opens against national title contender Ohio State on Sept. 2. Allen says facing so strong an opponent right away could positively impact the entire first month of the season.
“It fast-forwards everything. In our sport, we don’t have preseason games. We have two scrimmages with our own players, and we do a mock game the week before.
“To go from that to having to play such a high-level opponent immediately, it's challenging. When you have some young guys, new guys, you've got to mold them together.
“You’re trying to build that best team. Once you get through that (first game), is allows you to have an advantage weeks two, three, and four."