Jaylin Lucas Named Walter Camp Football Foundation All-American

IU Athletics Release

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Awards keep rolling in for Indiana football true freshman Jaylin Lucas, as the Walter Camp Football Foundation has tabbed the running back first-team All-America. The all-purpose back is the only true freshman on its 52-person All-America squad and the first true freshman to earn the distinction from the WCFF since 2013.

Lucas is the first Hoosier to earn All-America honors from Walter Camp 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). The last true freshman honored by Walter Camp was punter Austin Rehkow of Idaho in 2013. 

Along with the Walter Camp honor, CBSSports.com named him a first-team All-American and The Athletic tabbed him 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 (CBS Sports, 1st; Pro Football Focus, 1st; Walter Camp, 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).