In the first game of his NFL career last season, Marcus Thigpen returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown. Later in the season he returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Overall, he had a solid season as the Dolphins’ primary return man.
But Thigpen has a lot more than just “a solid season” in mind this year.
In 2013, Thigpen says he’s planning to break Devin Hester’s NFL record for combined kick return touchdowns: Hester set the record of six in 2007, when he returned four punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns, and Thigpen thinks he can get seven this year.
“My goal is to get at least seven returns for touchdowns on kick returns and punt returns combined,” Thigpen told the team’s website. “I want to do something that’s never been done before and anything’s possible.”
Oh, and Thigpen won’t be satisfied with just the greatest return season in NFL history. He also says he’s bulking up in an effort to convince the coaches that he deserves to be the team’s No. 1 running back.
“I’m working towards that right now and I’ve put on maybe six or seven pounds. I’m up to 200 right now and my goal is to be the starting running back for this team,” Thigpen said.
That’s probably not going to happen. But you have to admire Thigpen’s confidence.