Indiana Hoosiers Stun College Football World: Nation’s No. 1 American Overall Best Player Recruit Jaylin Lucas Chooses Indiana Over Tennessee and Georgia…
In a significant recruiting victory, the Indiana Hoosiers landed Jaylin Lucas, a three-star all-purpose back from Edna Karr High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Lucas, known for his explosive speed and versatility, flipped his commitment from Tulane to Indiana in December 2021, choosing the Hoosiers over offers from programs like Tennessee and Georgia.
Lucas made an immediate impact at Indiana. As a freshman in 2022, he emerged as one of the nation’s premier return specialists, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors and being named the Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year. He was the only player in the FBS that season with multiple kick return touchdowns.
In his sophomore year, Lucas continued to showcase his versatility, contributing as a running back, slot receiver, and return specialist. He led the Big Ten with 572 kickoff return yards and recorded a 100-yard kickoff return against Purdue, tying the longest play in Indiana’s history.
After two standout seasons, Lucas entered the transfer portal in December 2023 and committed to Florida State in January 2024. He appeared in the Seminoles’ first two games before a season-ending injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2024 season. Lucas is expected to return in 2025 with two years of eligibility remaining.
