Troy University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2016
A human magnet, who always brought out the best in everyone around him, while at the same time tuning his craft to the highest level, Al Lucas was a one-of-a-kind player, teammate and person.
Lucas was a two-time All-American for the Trojans and as a senior received one of the highest honors at the NCAA I-AA level, the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the top defensive player in the country.
“I cannot emphasize enough the fact that Al Lucas was a superstar at Troy,” Troy University Sports Hall of Fame member and Lucas’ head coach Larry Blakeney said. “Al Lucas was a leader, he was a player and he was whatever he needed to be to make his team better.”
Lucas’ legacy almost didn’t include the Trojans as Blakeney was making a visit to Northeast High School in Macon, Ga., to watch his brother Lenny, who Troy was recruiting, play a basketball game. However, it was Al’s attention that especially caught Blakeney’s eye.
“We were recruiting his brother Lenny, who was a really good tight end,” Blakeney said. “When they put Al in the game, he moved around like a cat on that basketball court. We took a chance on Al and signed them both and he became probably the best interior defensive lineman that we had – he was the real deal. We got two great players out of that trip, but more importantly we got a great family. They became Trojans immediately and have been ever since.”
Lucas earned All-America honors as a junior after recording 65 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The Trojans also used Lucas on offense in goal line situations and he rushed for nine touchdowns on 26 carries.
“Big, big, big,” Blakeney remembers the call that sent Lucas on the field in offensive situations. “They all wanted to be a running back and he was the first one on the field anytime we made the big call – he loved having the ball in his hands.”
Lucas’ junior season was just a precursor for what was to come his senior year. He led the Trojans to an 11-2 record and a berth in the NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals. He finished the season with 129 tackles and 20 tackles for loss; the totals still rank as the ninth and third most in a single-season in Troy history, respectively.
He still ranks among the all-time best at Troy as he is tied for seventh in tackles for loss, 11th in assisted tackles, 12th in tackle for loss yards and 17th in yards from sacks. Lucas played 20 games for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL from 2000-01 and was the fourth overall pick in the 2003 NFL Europe Draft, but elected to play in the Arena Football League (AFL).
Lucas took the AFL by storm as he was named to the AFL All-Rookie Team and helped the Arizona Rattlers win the ArenaBowl. However, that is where the Al Lucas story takes a tragic turn. Lucas passed away at the age of 26 from an injury suffered on April 10, 2005, in an AFL game between Lucas’ Los Angeles Avengers and the New York Dragons.
Blakeney and the Troy staff decided to honor Lucas the following fall and Troy wore black uniforms in the Trojans’ game against Florida International.
“It was emotional,” Blakeney said. “Anything that has to do with the brotherhood of a team is emotional. We had, and still do have, a lot of respect and admiration for Al and his family.”
The AFL renamed its Hero Award to the Al Lucas Award, while the Maxwell Football Club has named its AFL Player of the Year award in his honor.
“He deserves all of this,” Blakeney said. “Al Lucas was due this honor to be remembered among the all-time greats at Troy University regardless of the circumstance and I’m am beyond excited for his family.”
