Indiana’s Jaylin Lucas Focused On Winning in 2023 After All-American Freshman Season

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Two letters, RB, sit subsequent to Jaylin Lucas’ title on the Indiana soccer roster, however each fall immensely wanting depicting his expertise.

Throughout his highschool days in Louisiana, Lucas earned the nickname “The World’s Most Harmful Man.” Following the 2022 season the place he led the nation with two kick return touchdowns, titles like All-American and Huge Ten Return Specialist of the Yr joined the record of descriptors.

Lucas mentioned these accolades imply lots, and he all the time dreamed of what is he is now experiencing. He views it as signal that his exhausting work is paying off. However coming into his sophomore season in 2023, Lucas’ journey with the Indiana Hoosiers is about greater than himself.

“My principal focus is simply to win,” Lucas mentioned. “Have a successful program right here at Indiana.”

In Tom Allen’s sixth full season as head coach, Indiana went 4-8 with wins over Illinois, Idaho, Western Kentucky and Michigan State. It was the second straight season the place Indiana fell wanting bowl eligibility after enjoying into January through the 2019 and 2020 campaigns. 

Loads of work is required for Allen and the Hoosiers to get again to that time, however Lucas is hoping his game-breaking velocity can get them there. 

“This 12 months, man, all people is wanting as much as me,” the 5-foot-9 Lucas mentioned on Saturday. “This morning, man, it was about 75 p.c of the soccer workforce getting further work in, and that simply made me proud and made me understand we’re taking this upcoming season completely different. Everyone is able to roll this season. Everyone’s locked in.”

Lucas completed final season with 49 carries for 271 yards, or 5.5 yards per carry, and two dashing touchdowns. He caught 16 passes for 82 yards and returned 21 kicks for 591 yards and two touchdowns. Lucas’ 28.1 yards per kick return ranked sixth within the nation, however nobody matched his pair of scores, which got here in opposition to Rutgers and Michigan State. 

These accomplishments as a freshman within the Huge Ten absolutely caught the eye of coaches across the nation. With the prevalence of the switch portal, it is hardly ever a shock to see any student-athlete take a look at their choices. However that wasn’t the case with Lucas.

“Right here at Indiana, man, it is simply all love,” Lucas mentioned. I am actually not nervous concerning the [transfer] portal proper now. I simply really feel like that is one of the best match for me, and I may see myself simply constructing a legacy right here at Indiana.”

Regardless of spectacular numbers, Lucas known as his freshman season, “simply the little issues.” He plans on taking his sport to a different degree as a sophomore. 

What would that seem like to Lucas? 

“Taking up the sport,” he mentioned. “I can say our o-line is wanting excellent this 12 months. They’re put in further work and so they did not do this like final 12 months. I say my o-line, they’re positively going to be robust this 12 months.”

Lucas strives to be constant this offseason by placing in further work daily and blocking out outdoors noise. On the sector, he acknowledged cross safety as his greatest space of needed enchancment. He envisions himself enjoying a outstanding position within the run and kick-return video games as anticipated, however Lucas additionally needs to take extra snaps as a slot receiver to make the most of his velocity.

“I am simply going to be everywhere in the subject,” Lucas mentioned. “Simply being that principal, key issue on the Hoosiers.”

• INDIANA LANDS TAYVEN JACKSON: Former Tennessee quarterback Tayven Jackson is returning to his house state to play for Tom Allen and the Indiana Hoosiers. Jackson, a former four-star recruit, gained two state championships at Middle Grove Excessive College and is the youthful brother of Indiana basketball star Trayce Jackson-Davis. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA FOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: In our Indiana soccer switch portal tracker, you will discover a whole record of Hoosiers which have entered the switch portal, declared for the NFL Draft, exhausted their collegiate eligibility and gamers which can be transferring to Indiana for the 2023 season. We are going to often replace this record all through the offseason. CLICK HERE
• 2023 RECRUITING CLASS: Indiana signed 16 gamers through the early signing interval on Dec. 21, together with 11 highschool gamers and 5 collegiate transfers. Here is a full breakdown of every participant, full with quotes from coach Tom Allen. CLICK HERE
• TAYVEN JACKSON VISITS INDIANA: Former Tennessee quarterback Tayven Jackson, the youthful brother of Trayce Jackson-Davis, is attending the Indiana basketball sport with Indiana soccer coaches Tom Allen and Walt Bell. CLICK HERE
• TAYVEN JACKSON IN TRANSFER PORTAL: Tennessee quarterback Tayven Jackson, the youthful brother of Indiana basketball star ahead Trayce Jackson-Davis, has entered the switch portal. Jackson might be in Bloomington, Ind. on Saturday for the Indiana versus Wisconsin basketball sport at 1 p.m. ET. CLICK HERE