Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

It’s award season for the Big Ten football as the regular season and Indiana’s freshman running back Jaylin Lucas is taking home some hardware. Lucas is the first freshman and first Hoosier to earn the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Award in its history.

Lucas was the only player this season to return two kickoffs for scores, was fifth in the nation in average return yardage (28.14) and ninth in total return yards (591). He currently sits second on IU’s list of most all-time kick return touchdowns needing only one more to tie Marcus Thigpen.

"Since he's been here, I've thought, he's different." Indiana head coach Tom Allen said. “"You want to find ways to get him the football. His quickness, burst, and speed are elite. He's a hard-nosed, tough competitor.”

Lucas finished the year with 944 all-purpose yards and figures to be a cornerstone of IU’s future plans on offense.

Six other Hoosier players on defense and special teams earned All-Big Ten honors as honorable mention.

LB Cam Jones
LB Aaron Casey
OLB Dasan McCullough
DB Tiawan Mullen
K Charles Campbell
P James Evans

The Huddle

Freshman Jaylin Lucas Named Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year

Hoosier Huddle