Maybe Frank Reich wasn’t kidding about Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s “good energy.”
The 24-year-old receiver joined the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, a day after he was acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. When asked about what fans should expect of him, Smith-Marsette (in a clip courtesy of FOX Sports Radio reporter Sheena Quick) boldly stated the following:
“I’m the type of person that say ‘when’,” he said of getting the chance to return kicks. “So when that happens, when I get the opportunity to be the returner, I’ma show that any time the ball touches my hands, it’s possible that it’s gonna go to the house.
“That’s my mentality. I’m just gonna attack every time.”
Well, he certainly attacked this summer. Smith-Marsette recorded 195 receiving yards this preseason (second-most in the league) while taking it to the house twice.
He was quite acquainted with that house through the return game as well. During his four years at the University of Iowa, the 2018 Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year fielded a total of 53 kickoffs for 1,520 yards (28.7 yards per return) and two scores.
So, we just have to wait for when (not if) his opportunity comes.
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