Hoosier Kick Returner Jaylin Lucas Collects More All-American Honors

IU Athletics Release

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and USA Today are the latest outlet to honor true freshman Jaylin Lucas with All-American honors, as the USA Today placed him as a first teamer at return specialist and the AFCA named him to its all-purpose second team.

The only freshman on either of the 52-person All-America squads and was one of eight underclassmen on the AFCA organizations list.

Lucas is the first Hoosier to earn All-America honors from the AFCA or the USA Today since Tevin Coleman in 2014. The last Indiana kick returner to garner All-America status was Marcus Thigpen during the 2006 season. He is 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).
 
Along with two All-American honors this week, USA Today, Walter Camp, Pro Football Focus and CBSSports.com each named him a first-team All-American and the AFCA tabbed him second team. The Athletic named him as a first-team Freshman All-American. A full list of honors and awards can be found at the bottom of this release.
 
With two return touchdowns, Lucas is 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. His two kickoff return touchdowns rank tied for No. 7 among active FBS student-athletes, as well.
 
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 rank 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 is the first Hoosier since 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.
 
2022 Postseason Honors
Aaron Casey – Third-team All-Big Ten (Pro Football Focus), honorable mention All-Big Ten (B1G media).
James Evans – Honorable mention All-Big Ten (B1G coaches & media).
Cam Jones – Honorable mention All-Big Ten (B1G coaches & media).
Jaylin Lucas – All-America (AFCA, 2nd; CBS Sports, 1st; Pro Football Focus, 1st; Walter Camp, 1st; USA Today, 1st), Freshman All-America (The Athletic, 1st), Big Ten's Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten (B1G coaches & media, Pro Football Focus, Associated Press).
Tiawan Mullen – Honorable mention All-Big Ten (B1G coaches & media).