Indiana football sophomore running back Jaylin Lucas has earned preseason All-American honors, announced on Friday. He was named a First-Team kick return specialist on the Walter Camp All-American Team.
Lucas was an All-American in 2022 after totaling 591 kick return yards. He averaged 28.1 yards per return which ranked No. 4 nationally.
Below is the full release from Indiana football.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –
The first preseason honors have rolled out and Indiana sophomore Jaylin Lucas has earned a nod to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America team as the first-team kick return specialist.
In 2022, Lucas earned All-America accolades from six outlets, which included first-team nods from CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, Walter Camp and USA Today. He was the Big Ten’s Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year and a first-team All-Big Ten pick by the conference coaches & media, Phil Steele, Pro Football Focus and the Associated Press.
He was the first IU return specialist to earn All-Big Ten honors and the first true freshman to win the Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year (both began in 2015).
The first Indiana kick returner to garner All-America status since Marcus Thigpen during the 2006 season, Lucas ranks No. 2 on both the IU single season and career charts after one season on campus. He trails Thigpen (2005-08), who returned all three of his career kickoffs for scores during the 2006 campaign.
With 591 kickoff return yards, Lucas finished No. 12 in a single season in program history and led the Big Ten in the category. His 28.1 yards per return ranked No. 4 nationally. He added 271 yards rushing and 82 yards receiving to total 994 all-purpose yards on the season to lead the team. That total is the most in a season by an IU player since Whop Philyor (1,094) in 2019.
The Houma, Louisiana, native was the first Hoosier since Tevin Coleman in 2014 with three 70-yard scoring plays in a single season. Both of his kickoff return scores covered 80-plus yards and he added a 71-yard rushing touchdown in the season finale versus Purdue as part of his first career 100-yard rushing game.
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