Indiana's Jaylin Lucas Makes Feldman's 'College Football Freaks' List for 2023

Indiana running back Jaylin Lucas had a breakout freshman season in 2022, and for his efforts, he's received national recognition. On Tuesday, he was listed by The Athletic's Bruce Feldman as one of the 101 "College Football Freaks" for the 2023 season.

Every day this August seems to bring a new accolade for star Indiana running back and return specialist Jaylin Lucas, and Tuesday was no different. 

The 5-foot-9, 18 year-old from Louisiana was named to the highly anticipated College Football Freaks List, published each preseason by The Athletic's Bruce Feldman. 

In total, 101 players from every level of college football make Feldman's list, though mainly it is composed of FBS players. 

"The original idea was to spotlight the players whose athleticism blew the minds of folks inside their own college football programs," Feldman said in the piece for the 2023 preseason. 

In total, 19 players from the Big Ten were named to the Freaks List, with Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. being listed as No. 2 overall "Freak" on the list, behind only South Carolina's Nyckoles Harbor. Penn State had the most players on the list of any Big Ten school with six, while Michigan and Ohio State each had four and three, respectively. 

Lucas was listed at the 99th overall spot on Feldman's list, just sliding into the top 101 by the skin of his teeth. Clearly to anyone who has watched him, it was Lucas's top tier speed that got him on the list. 

"The 170-pounder with 4 percent body fat was clocked this offseason in the 40 at 4.29," Feldman said. The article also references Lucas's freshman year stats of 271 rushing yards, 16 catches and two kickoff return touchdowns. As has been the case all offseason, Feldman also drew on two famous comparisons for Lucas in Darren Sproles and De'Anthony Thomas. 

Indiana RB Jaylin Lucas made @BruceFeldmanCFB's Annual CFB Freaks List, mainly due to his ridiculous 4.29 40-yard dash #iufb pic.twitter.com/MsvKdfHpOw

— Dan Olinger (@dan_olinger) August 15, 2023

The last Indiana Hoosier to make the Freaks List was Marcelino McCrary-Ball in 2021, who made Feldman's top 101 three separate times in his IU career. McCrary-Ball played as a defensive back in Bloomington from 2016-21, though he missed the entirety of the 2020 season with a torn ACL. He finished his collegiate career with 5.5 sacks and four interceptions, and after going undrafted out of Indiana, he eventually caught on as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. 

Lucas is one of the youngest players on the entire list at only 18 years old. If his 2022 season was any indication, he's just getting started on what should be a legendary college football career. 

To check out Feldman's Freaks List in its entirety, click on the link here. 

Jaylin Lucas #iufb https://t.co/CJIjzPG4AS pic.twitter.com/Ph0kcNu9mw

— Dan Olinger (@dan_olinger) August 1, 2023

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