Honors & Awards
- 2007 Second-Team All-Big 12 (Big 12 Coaches, Austin American-Statesman)
- 2007 Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (AP)
- 2006 Second-Team All-Big 12 (AP, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News)
- 2006 Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches)
- Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week (vs. Nevada, 2007)
- Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (vs. Troy, 2006, vs. Nevada, 2007)
- 2007 Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Academic Honor Roll
- Nebraska Record for Most Receptions in a Season (75 in 2007)
- Fourth on Nebraska Career All-Purpose Yardage List
2008 (Senior)
I-back Marlon Lucky concluded one of the most productive all-purpose careers in Nebraska history with a solid 2008 campaign. The 6-0, 215-pound Lucky finished his career among the top 20 in school history in rushing, while ranking in the top five in receptions and all-purpose yards. The California native was a play-maker for the Nebraska offense since his true freshman campaign in 2005.
Lucky finished his career with 2,393 rushing yards to rank 17th on Nebraska’s all-time rushing list and his 1,019 yards in 2007 was the first 1,000-yard rushing season by an NU back in three seasons. Lucky also caught 135 career passes to rank fourth on that career list, while his 75 receptions in 2007 is a Nebraska season record. Overall, Lucky played in 50 career games with 29 starts and his 4,214 career all-purpose yards ranks fourth in school history.
Lucky started the first 11 games of his senior season before missing the regular season finale with Colorado because of injury. He rotated at I-back with sophomores Quentin Castille and Roy Helu Jr., and the trio of talented backs produced big numbers for a Husker offense that ranked among the top 20 nationally in passing, scoring and total offense.
Lucky finished 2008 as Nebraska’s second-leading rusher with 517 yards and tied for the team lead with seven rushing touchdowns. He also continued to be a factor in the passing game, catching 26 passes, while also triggering the offense on several direct-snap plays. Lucky topped 50 yards on the ground four times during the 2008 campaign, including a 103-yard rushing effort against New Mexico State. His effort against the Aggies included a career-long 58-yard rush. On that run, Lucky became the 24th player in school history to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards. He also threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Joe Ganz in the game, then added his fourth career TD pass against Kansas off a direct snap from center. Lucky’s 26 pass receptions covered 288 yards and he added his fourth career receiving touchdown in 2008.
2007 (Junior)
Lucky earned second-team All-Big 12 honors after one of the most productive all-purpose seasons in school history. He topped 1,000 rushing yards, finishing the year with 1,019 yards on 206 rushes, including nine rushing touchdowns. His 84.9 yards per game ranked seventh in the Big 12 Conference and Lucky finished the year with five 100-yard rushing efforts, while reaching at least 65 yards rushing nine times as a junior.
The solid rushing season turned in by Lucky took a backseat to his record-setting receiving numbers. Lucky caught a Nebraska single-season record 75 passes for 705 yards and three touchdowns. Lucky caught at least six passes in eight games, including 13 receptions against Texas A&M and 11 against Ball State, the second- and third-best reception totals in school history. Lucky’s all-purpose average of 145.3 yards per game was 31st nationally and he topped 100 combined yards in 10 of 12 games.
Lucky began the season with career highs of 30 carries and 233 yards, including three touchdowns in a 52-10 victory over Nevada. He also caught a touchdown pass in the game and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week.
Lucky had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games against Ball State and Iowa State, and also threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Sean Hill in the win over the Cyclones. Lucky was at his best in the final five games, when he averaged 156.4 all-purpose yards per game and snared a total of 39 receptions. He ran 24 times for 111 yards and caught six passes at Texas, then had six catches for 83 yards, including a career-long 62-yard touchdown catch against No. 8 Kansas. Lucky had his final 100-yard rushing effort of the season against Kansas State, then closed the year with 184 all-purpose yards at Colorado.
2006 (Sophomore)
Lucky was part of a four-man I-back committee that totaled more than 2,400 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. He was chosen as a second-team All-Big 12 selection as an all-purpose player by the Associated Press, and was an honorable-mention all-conference choice by the Big 12 coaches.
Lucky’s 728 rushing yards were second on the team, and he caught 32 passes for 383 yards, with at least one reception in 13 of 14 games. Lucky topped 100 all-purpose yards six times and his 1,264 all-purpose yards were second on the team, and just outside of the top 10 in the conference.
On the ground, Lucky twice cracked the century mark, rushing for 103 yards on 18 carries against Nicholls State, before a breakout performance against Troy. Lucky rushed 10 times for 156 yards with touchdown runs of 34, 45 and 51 yards in a shutout victory over the Trojans. Lucky’s 15.6 yards per-carry average was the best for a Husker with at least 10 carries in a game since 1995, and he was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
Like his junior season, Lucky finished strong in 2006. He threw a 25-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Nate Swift against Texas, then had 151 all-purpose yards in a win over Missouri and 136 all-purpose yards a week later at Texas A&M. He capped his sophomore year with a strong all-around performance against Auburn in the Cotton Bowl. Lucky carried a season-high 25 times for 88 yards and also caught six passes for 67 yards to total 195 all-purpose yards. The Auburn contest was one of six games in which Lucky had 40 or more receiving yards.
2005 (Freshman)
Lucky was one of 13 true freshmen to see action and played in all 12 games. He was a backup behind senior Cory Ross and ran for 129 yards, while also playing a key role on kickoff returns. He averaged 20.9 yards on 15 returns, including a season-long 57-yard return at Kansas. He also had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Jayhawks nullified by penalty. Lucky ran for a season-high 44 yards against Maine and had 33 yards in a 30-3 win at Colorado. Lucky also caught two passes.
Before Nebraska (North Hollywood HS)
Lucky was one of the nation’s most sought-after prep prospects in 2005. A Parade All-American, Lucky starred at North Hollywood High for Head Coach Brad Ratcliffe. Lucky rushed for 2,036 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior and finished his career with 4,881 yards and 81 touchdowns in three seasons. Lucky also caught 23 passes for 443 yards and six touchdowns as a senior. His performance earned him selection as the most valuable player in his league and first-team CalHi Sports all-state honors. As a junior, Lucky had 1,778 yards and 28 touchdowns, along with two touchdown catches.
A second-team All-American by USA Today, Lucky played in the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio. Lucky was also a four-year letterwinner in track. He only visited Nebraska, but also received scholarship offers from USC and Washington, among others.
Personal
Lucky lived in Dallas through seventh grade, then moved to the Los Angeles area where his uncle and a guardian currently reside in North Hollywood. Lucky was born on Feb. 28, 1986, and is majoring in sociology, and was named to the 2007 Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll. He has volunteered his time with the Read to Succeed Book Drive and NU’s team hospital visits.
Lucky's Career Statistics
Year
G/S
Att.
Gain
Loss
Net
Y/A
Y/G
Long
TDs
2005
12/0
43
139
10
129
3.0
10.8
11, twice
0
2006
14/6
144
762
34
728
5.2
52.0
51 vs. Troy
6
2007
12/12
206
1,057
38
1,019
4.9
84.9
41 vs. ISU
9
2008 12/11 125 550 33 517 4.1 47.0 58 vs. NMSU 7Totals
50/29
515
2,508
115
2,393
4.6
48.8
58 vs. NMSU
22
Receiving: 135-1,379-4 total; 2-3-0 in 2005; 32-383-0 in 2006; 75-705-3 in 2007; 26-288-1 in 2008
Kickoff Returns: 22-442-0 total; 13-270-0 in 2005; 8-153-0 in 2006; 1-19-0 in 2007; long 57-Kansas, 2005
Passing: 4-6-0, 69 yards, 4 TD total; 1-2-0, 25 yards in 2006 (25-yard TD pass to Nate Swift vs. Texas);
1-2-0, 20 yards in 2007 (20-yard TD pass to Sean Hill vs. Iowa State); 2-2-0, 24 yars in 2008 (20-yard TD
pass to Joe Ganz vs. New Mexico State, 4-yard TD pass to Mike McNeill vs. Kansas)
Single-Game Bests:
Rushing Attempts?30 vs. Nevada, 2007
Rushing Yards?233 vs. Nevada, 2007
Long Rush?58 vs. New Mexico State, 2008
Rushing Touchdowns - 3 vs. Troy, 2006; vs. Nevada, 2007
Receptions-13 vs. Texas A&M, 2007Â (Nebraska RB Record)
Receiving Yards-125 vs. Texas A&M, 2007
Long Reception-69 vs. Baylor, 2008
Long Kickoff Return?57 vs. Kansas, 2005