Indiana to Increase Jaylin Lucas’ Role: ‘Whenever I Get the Ball, I’m Gonna Make Something Happen.”

Jaylin Lucas bounced to the skin as Indiana proper sort out Parker Hanna sealed the sting. Recent off his 18th birthday, Lucas, Indiana’s 5-foot-9 true freshman operating again, knew he had a one-on-one matchup with the Nebraska security within the open area.

“I simply caught my foot within the floor and simply acquired busy,” Lucas stated.

With two ankle-breaking jukes, a pair of Nebraska defenders fell helplessly to the turf. The Cornhuskers ultimately corralled Lucas to the sideline after a 34-yard acquire that represented Lucas’ first – and positively not final – explosive play of his Hoosier profession. It additionally helped arrange Shaun Shivers’ game-tying 1-yard landing run with 15 seconds left earlier than halftime.

Nebraska allowed the fifth-most complete yards per sport within the FBS coming into this matchup, however the Cornhuskers held Indiana scoreless within the second half. Lucas didn’t contact the ball within the last half-hour. The end result was Indiana’s second consecutive loss, a 35-21 defeat by a Nebraska staff that fired its head coach after dropping to Georgia Southern at house three weeks prior.

Runs like Lucas’ towards Nebraska have been uncommon for an Indiana speeding assault that generates 105.2 yards per sport, which ranks thirteenth within the Huge Ten. However because the Hoosiers put together for his or her homecoming sport towards No. 4 Michigan on Saturday, Indiana coach Tom Allen stated involving Lucas within the offense is a precedence.

“We wish to, and have to, and anticipate to get him the ball extra,” Allen stated.

Lucas joined Indiana within the spring of 2021 out of Houma, La. with a chip on his shoulder. Lucas stated individuals doubted his skill to play within the Huge Ten due to his peak, and he used that skepticism as motivation. And now that he’s right here, Lucas believes his pace is a bonus within the Huge Ten.

“I really feel like dimension do not matter,” Lucas stated. “It is simply the center, you’re feeling me? General, I really feel like, man, each time I get the ball I am gonna make one thing occur.”

Indiana coaches and gamers raved about Lucas’ pace and agility earlier than the season. Watching snippets of Indiana’s fall camp practices, Lucas stood out as a lot as anybody on the staff. However by way of 5 video games, Lucas has simply seven carries for 55 yards, two catches for eight yards and 4 kick returns for 91 yards.

As a 5-foot-9, 170-pound true freshman, an elevated workload for Lucas will include time. Offensive coordinator Walt Bell stated there was a progress curve for Lucas from a pass-protection standpoint and studying to run between the tackles.

From Allen’s perspective, one other think about Lucas’ restricted touches to date is the character of Indiana’s fast-paced offense. The Hoosiers wish to line up and snap the ball as quick as doable with a view to hold the protection on its heels, and which means much less frequent substitutions.

“Each time you sub, [the defense] can and they’re going to,” Allen stated. “They’re going to are available in at their very own leisurely tempo to have the ability to sluggish the whole lot down. In order that’s, schematically, what you need to have the ability to forestall from how we wish to function … You may’t simply insert him for a play.”

Indiana operating backs coach Craig Johnson famous that Indiana has been in loads of shut video games, and he didn’t wish to put a younger participant ready the place he can’t flourish. However because the season has progressed, Johnson stated Lucas has been very “assignment-competent” in apply, which supplies him confidence to place him within the sport.

As Lucas continues to develop and develop, Bell stated he’ll change into a bigger a part of the offense, and thinks he can change into an awesome “space-touch participant.” Allen stated Lucas may also be returning kicks for Indiana now, constantly.

“He is a dynamic participant,” Allen stated. “We acquired to do a greater job of giving him the soccer extra steadily, with out query.”

Lucas’ older brother, Ja’Khi Douglas, is a redshirt sophomore slot receiver on the Florida State soccer staff. Lucas stated the 2 share the identical shifty attributes, and he credit Douglas for the whole lot he is aware of as a soccer participant.

The 2 discuss daily, and most lately, Lucas has been choosing Douglas’ mind on what it takes to play slot receiver, too. Lucas stated they used to problem one another to one-on-one battles – one brother at broad receiver and the opposite at defensive again – which helped Lucas be taught route-running particulars and the best way to get away of cuts.

Lucas additionally credit the high-level competitors in Louisiana for getting ready him to play within the Huge Ten. At Terrebone Excessive Faculty, he was teammates with the nation’s prime defensive lineman recruit, Maason Smith, who performs at LSU. Hurricane Ida compelled Lucas to relocate, and he performed his senior 12 months at Edna Karr Excessive Faculty alongside Aaron Anderson, who performs broad receiver at Alabama.

Heading into Saturday’s matchup with Michigan, Lucas thinks the teaching employees has discovered a extra outlined position for him, which incorporates his reps at each operating again and slot receiver.

“I’m moving into the offense loads this week,” Lucas stated. “It must be a hell of a sport.”

Associated tales on Indiana soccer:

• JAYLIN LUCAS STANDS OUT AT FALL CAMP: Jaylin Lucas will play his first school soccer snap as a 17-year-old operating again, and his pace, acceleration and quick-twitch type of play has led to belief from Indiana coaches instantly. “That is the sort of man we’ve been searching for,” Tom Allen stated. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA WEEK 6 DEPTH CHART, INJURY NOTES: Indiana (3-2) performs No. 4 Michigan (5-0) on Saturday in a Midday ET kickoff from Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. Here is Indiana’s Week 6 depth chart, in addition to a couple of damage notes. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA OPENS AS MAJOR UNDERDOG: Coming off a loss at Nebraska, Indiana soccer hosts No. 4 Michigan for a Midday ET kickoff on Saturday. The Wolverines are favored by 22 factors. CLICK HERE