Another notable Indiana football player has entered his name into the transfer portal.
On Wednesday morning, HoosierIllustrated.com learned that sophomore Indiana football running back Jaylin Lucas has entered the transfer portal. The news comes weeks after the firing head coach Tom Allen and the hiring of former James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti.
With the transition of a new head coach, it was always expected that multiple Indiana football Hoosiers would enter their name into the portal.
For Jaylin Lucas, is was an up-and-down season for the talented sophomore running back. After coming into the season with much hype as a return specialist and a dynamic running back, the former Indiana football staff did not always put Lucas in the best spots to succeed on the field.
In 2023, Lucas finished with 1,108 all-purpose yards, the most in a season since Stevie Scott III (1,223) in 2018. His total included 572 kickoff return yards, 275 rushing yards, 247 receiving yards and 14 punt return yards. He accounted for five total touchdowns – 1 return, 2 rushing and 2 receiving – and led the team with 101 offensive touches during the season. With his kickoff return touchdown at Purdue, Lucas is tied for the lead among active FBS returners with three career kickoff return touchdowns, which ties Marcus Thigpen (2005-08) for the Indiana football career record. His career kickoff return yardage total of 1,163 ranks No. 10 all-time at Indiana, as well as No. 22 among active NCAA returners and second among non-upperclassmen.
Lucas was the 2022 Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, the first Hoosier to win the award and first freshman to capture the honor since its inception in 2015. He was the first Hoosier to earn all-conference accolades as a return specialist last season.
“The biggest thing from a year ago to where he’s at (now) … the early game jitters. When he was a true freshman, an early enrollee, that was a lot for him. He plays like a second year player (now),” IU running backs coach Craig Johnson said before the season. “He’s understanding the game, the pace of the game, what he needs to do. Football is very important to him, he works on his craft hard. I think — I like what I see so far, but I’m never in love with what I see and they know there is always room to grow.”
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