Ravens’ speedster has his eyes set on a Hall of Fame-level impact after dabbling in new role at end of 2024

The Baltimore Ravens’ running back room is a tough place to get touches these days. Derrick Henry, rightfully, commands the lion's share of the workload. And, with Henry working against Father Time and a new, hefty contract extension in hand this offseason, it doesn’t appear as though that dynamic is changing any time soon.

As a result, the running backs of Baltimore’s backfield NOT named Derrick Henry will have to get a little more open-minded about how they can go about securing an impact role for the Ravens in 2025. Third-year running back Keaton Mitchell seems to think he’s found the perfect niche after getting some opportunities last season returning kicks — and he’s not backing down from having Hall of Fame-level aspirations.

Mitchell, during his media availability on Friday, discussed potentially getting opportunities to touch the ball on special teams again this year. He said the team has talked with him about a returner role, and he aspires to invoke memories of the best to do it.

“Oh yes, for sure…I'm pretty sure teams will put it in play, and I want to be the one to return to kickoff returns and being able to be like a Devin Hester, like a don't-kick-it-at-type of guy.”

Mitchell admitted that formal return opportunities were a bit foreign in his college career, as he logged 12 total returns across three seasons at East Carolina. But Mitchell got some run late last year as a first exposure and he makes a great point about how the play unfolds amid the new kickoff rules.

“In college, they didn't really let me do too much of kick return, but it is like a natural instinct. It's like an outside zone play for a running back, so it is kind of natural."

Is that enough to fulfill a ‘Devin Hester’ level impact? Probably not, as he’ll need a casual 11 return touchdowns in his first two seasons on the job to match Hester’s impact. But Mitchell does have the juice to make you hold your breath every time he catches a crease.

The mechanics of the new return rules create a pre-stretched front feel, and it’s all about finding the cutback crease vertically that can allow a big return to pop. Given Mitchell’s blazing speed and the fact that he’s buried behind both Henry and Justice Hill on the depth chart, this is the perfect kind of role for Mitchell to pursue.

Any player who can attack their opportunities with such confidence should be empowered to go full steam ahead. Mitchell’s eyes may just be a bit bigger than his stomach to think that a Hester-level reputation awaits him in his new bid to make an impact. There’s plenty of room for fear in the tiers below Hester, all the same.