ASU track and field redshirt freshman Paul Lucas was a running back at Oregon State University last year, but after his team went 4-8, Lucas began asking himself if he really wanted to be at OSU.
Lucas was a former three-star recruit from Phoenix who decided to attend OSU over ASU right before Signing Day in 2015. This year, Lucas decided to come back home and run track for the Sun Devils instead of playing football. He will be competing as a redshirt freshman.
“I'm more of a family-oriented person so I wanted to be around my family since I’m from Arizona,” Lucas said. “Over time, though, I wanted to come back to Arizona.”
Family wasn’t the only reason that Lucas wanted to transfer. Lucas' playing time was limited because of OSU's depth at the receiver position – namely, because of senior Victor Bolden Jr.
“I played behind Victor Bolden, he is one of the best receivers in the country,” Lucas said. “So I knew I couldn’t expect too much, but I figured that somehow some kind of way I’d be on the field.”
When Lucas decided to transfer, there was only one school on his mind.
“When I went in to transfer they make you write down the list of schools that you are thinking about going too, and I had ASU,” Lucas said. “I didn’t have any other school on the list.”
Ronnie Williams, one of the University's assistant coaches, said he heard rumors that Lucas may leave OSU, but decided to call him after he received the release from the university announcing his intent to transfer.
Williams said during his first call with Lucas they spoke about his reasons for leaving OSU, what he was looking for in a school and if ASU would be a good fit.
“After the point of us having the first phone conversation I was the primary point of contact through the whole process. He was interested in us, and we were interested in him,” Williams said. “We were talking almost daily about applying to school and all the other things you have to do to make it a reality.”
Another reason Lucas pulled the trigger on the transfer was because OSU did not have a men’s track and field team, and he missed doing track in the off-season.
Lucas said even though he made a lot of lifelong friends at OSU — some of whom he still keeps in touch with — it was nice to come back to his childhood friends in Arizona.
"I made a couple of friends that I feel like I'll be friends with them for the rest of my life," Lucas said. "A couple of them left the school, but we all still keep in contact."
Lucas said that the coaches and people at OSU were incredibly helpful when he told them of his intention to transfer. He said he they just wanted what was best for him.
Once the transfer process was complete the coaching staff turned their attention to getting Lucas back into track and field shape.
Although Lucas hadn’t run in two years, he was having an easy time getting back into sprinting form.
“He has a really big track and field background because it was one of his first sports growing up,” Williams said. “He was so successful at it, so for him it was almost like riding a bike.”
Lucas said he agreed with Williams, admitting that while nothing happens overnight, the process is significantly easier because of his natural talent. Williams and other coaches said they have high expectations for Lucas and believe there is a possibility of Lucas racing in nationals this year.
“I think he is a special talent,” Williams said. “He expects special things, he probably expects his college track career to be just as successful as his high school track career. I think that is a reasonable expectation.”
Head coach Greg Kraft was a little more cautious when talking about Lucas’ transition. He said that while it is going well and he expects Lucas to perform well this season, there is still a ways to go.
“I think for us right now with Paul’s development it is all about the process,” Kraft said.
Paul Lucas(6th) and Bryson Echols(12th) both advance to the men’s 60m dash semifinals.
— SunDevilTFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) February 11, 2017
Kraft also said he believes the future is bright for Lucas, though his talent has yet to be unlocked. Kraft has not had a chance to watch him let loose in practice or at races, since most of their training has been form based.
Lucas holds no misgivings about his own talent level and thinks that the sky is the limit.
“I know that Pac-12 Championships are coming up for indoor,” Lucas said “I’m trying to run in something and place top three.”
Time will tell if Lucas has the talent to contend in nationals, but one thing is certain: his coaches think he has the raw talent to get there.
Reach the reporter at jzaklis@gmail.com and follow @JoshZaklis on Twitter.
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