Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Can KaVontae Turpin have 'Devin Hester effect' for Cowboys?

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 9/7/22

Cowboys return specialist KaVontae Turpin may become an electric playmaker, but can he follow in the footsteps of Devin Hester, perhaps the greatest returner in NFL history? Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel believes he can.

“We’ve talked about the ‘Devin Hester effect’ quite a few times,” Fassel said at a news conference recently. “The blockers knew they had someone that could score every time they touched the ball.”

A comparison to Hester is extremely high praise. He holds the record for most touchdown returns with 20. and made first-team All-Pro three times.

When the Cowboys signed Turpin in the middle of training camp, they were stunned by his potential.

Turpin looked like Hester in a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, when he had 184 yards in returns and scored two TDs.

KAVONTAE TURPIN PUNT RETURN TOUCHDOWN!!!!!

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/AZEA2nZ2zj
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) August 21, 2022

Besides scoring on his own, Turpin's ability to get the offense into favorable field position could be a boon for the Cowboys this season.

Turpin’s speed could also get him a shot at wide receiver. Receivers Michael Gallup and James Washington are still recovering from injuries and will not be ready for Week 1.

According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, running back Tony Pollard has taken reps at wideout, but he hasn’t played the position regularly since his college days at Memphis.

Turpin’s abilities give him an edge. However, return specialists sometimes struggle to transition into this role. The Bears used Hester as a receiver, but he never starred at the position.

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