Indiana's Jaylin Lucas Named to Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List

Following a first-team All-American freshman year as a kick returner, Indiana's Jaylin Lucas was one of 53 players named to the Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana sophomore Jaylin Lucas' responsibilities in 2023 will likely include kick returner, punt returner, running back and slot receiver. 

So it's fitting that Lucas landed on the Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List, an award given to college football's most versatile player. 

The full, 53-player list was announced on Thursday.

The 14th Annual Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List includes Indiana's Jaylin Lucas, who led the FBS in kick-return touchdowns in 2022 / Louisville Sports Commission

Lucas was a first-team All-American kick returner in 2022, leading all FBS players with two kick-return touchdowns as a freshman. He led the Big Ten in total kick return yardage (591) and kickoff return yards per game (28.1 ypg) on his way to becoming the first freshman to win the conference’s Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year award. 

Lucas had an especially strong end to his freshman campaign, rushing for a season-high 100 yards and one touchdown on just nine attempts in Week 12 against Purdue. 

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 :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Heading into his sophomore year, Lucas said at Big Ten Media Days last week that he set a goal to have 8-10 kick and punt return touchdowns. In addition to his talents in the return game, Lucas is Indiana's most dangerous offensive weapon, and Indiana hopes to maximize his productivity in 2023 as a running back and slot receiver. 

The Paul Hornung Award was created by the Louisville Sports Commission in January 2010, and is named after Notre Dame legend Paul Hornung, a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Hornung won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame, leading the Irish in passing, rushing, scoring, kickoff returns, punt returns and punting. He also played defense, finishing first in pass breakups and second in interceptions and tackles that year. Hornung went on to become the No. 1 pick in the 1957 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, and later won four NFL Championships and the first Super Bowl. 

Related stories on Indiana football

• OFFENSIVE LINE PREVIEW: First up in our Indiana football position previews, the offensive line. This unit has struggled in the last two seasons, and is perhaps the most important position group heading in to 2023. On Wednesday, we talked with new offensive line coach Bob Bostad, as well as linemen Matt Bedford, Mike Katic, Kahlil Benson and Max Longman following the first day of fall camp. CLICK HERE
• BOSTAD'S IMPACT ON O-LINE: Indiana offensive line coach Bob Bostad spoke to media following the first day of fall camp on Wednesday, along with players Mike Katic, Matthew Bedford, Max Longman and Kahlil Benson. Here's how Bostad is making his mark on a group that's eager to prove itself in 2023. CLICK HERE
• OPEN COMPETITION AMONG SECONDARY: Indiana coach Tom Allen held his first presser of fall camp on Tuesday and said that he expects open competition at nearly every position group on the roster, but particularly in the secondary. CLICK HERE
• THREE QUESTION FOR IU HEADING INTO FALL CAMP: With Tom Allen and the Indiana football team starting fall camp this week, here are three questions the team needs to answer in this next month. CLICK HERE
• IU BUILDING FOOTBALL-ONLY WEIGHT ROOM: Thanks to a "major gift" from alumnus Jay Wilkinson, IU plans to build a new weight facility in Memorial Stadium in 2024. CLICK HERE