A pair of former Florida State playmakers delivered the biggest moments of Tulane’s first victory of the season Saturday night.
Running back Jaylin Lucas rushed for a career-high 214 yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Destyn Hill caught the game-winning score as Tulane rallied past South Alabama, 28-24, at Yulman Stadium. The Green Wave erased an early 10-point deficit and improved to 1-1.
Lucas needed only 11 carries to rewrite the stadium record book, averaging 19.5 yards per attempt. His night included a 54-yard run and an 80-yard touchdown in the third quarter that pulled Tulane even at 17. The 214-yard performance surpassed former Green Wave star Tyjae Spears’ previous Yulman Stadium record of 199 rushing yards, set against UCF in the 2022
American Athletic Conference Championship Game.
Hill provided the finishing touch. With Tulane trailing 24-21 late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Kadin Semonza found Hill for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:17 remaining. Hill finished as the Green Wave’s leading receiver with four catches for 91 yards and the decisive score. Tulane’s defense then forced a turnover on downs to secure the comeback.
The performance gave Florida State fans a familiar connection on both sides of Tulane’s offense.
Lucas spent the previous two seasons with the Seminoles after beginning his career at Indiana. In 2025, he rushed 27 times for 160 yards and added 88 receiving yards for FSU before transferring to Tulane for his final collegiate season.
Hill began his college career at Florida State, appearing in 10 games during the 2023 season before missing 2024 with an injury. He later transferred to the LSU Tigers before joining Tulane ahead of the 2026 season.
For one night in New Orleans, two former Seminoles became the centerpiece of Tulane’s comeback — Lucas producing a record-setting rushing performance and Hill delivering the winning touchdown.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Former FSU playmakers power Tulane comeback
