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Indiana football running back Jaylin Lucas named to Paul Hornung Award watchlist

Michael Niziolek, The Herald-Times
·2 min read

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football running back Jaylin Lucas was named to the preseason watchlist for the Paul Hornung Award on Thursday given annually to the most versatile player in college football.

Lucas was one of 53 players named to the award’s preseason watch list and one of six to come from the Big Ten.

He earned first-team All-American honors as a true freshman last season and was the first freshman to win Specialist of the Year honors in the Big Ten.

Indiana's Jaylin Lucas (12) runs during a drill during the first day of fall camp for Indiana football at their practice facilities on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.
Indiana's Jaylin Lucas (12) runs during a drill during the first day of fall camp for Indiana football at their practice facilities on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

He was one of the most dynamic kick returners in the country with 591 return yards (28.1 yards per game). He including a pair of 90-plus yard returns for touchdowns. was the first Indiana player with a kickoff return score since Tevin Coleman in 2012.

Lucas averaged 85.8 all-purpose yards per game and closed out the season with a 100-yard rushing performance against Purdue.

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Indiana coach Tom Allen told reporters at Big Ten Media Days that Lucas will have a minimum touch count this season thanks to an expanded special teams duties (he’s likely to return punts this year) and larger role on offense that will include more reps at slot receiver.

The award is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung, who as a senior started at quarterback and also punted, kicked, returned kicks, and played defensive back. Seven of the 13 winners of the award went on to get drafted in the first-round.

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Oregon State linebacker Jack Colletto won the award last year with six rushing touchdowns, two completed passes, 28 tackles and a forced fumble.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on Twitter @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana football RB Jaylin Lucas named to Paul Hornung Award watchlist