MINNEAPOLIS -- Marcus Jones has set the bar pretty high for himself.
The Gophers junior ran a kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown in Minnesota's season opener against UNLV. One week later, he took a punt 65 yards to the end zone for a touchdown against New Mexico State.
It's highly unlikely Jones will maintain his pace of one special teams touchdown per game, but that's not going to stop Jones from trying.
"It's a pretty high standard. Now I look at it as a challenge," Jones said. "I challenge myself every week, especially in the non-conference against some teams that are not as good as Big Ten teams. As a special teams (unit), can we score every game? If we can, it'll be a great accomplishment. If not, we're up for the challenge anyway."
Minnesota already has three special teams touchdowns through its first two victories, including Jones' two big returns. In 13 games last season, the Gophers did not have a single kick or punt return for a touchdown after running three total kicks back in 2011.
Jones' football career could have easily been over before this season. The junior from Wake Forest, N.C. has been the victim of two major knee injuries in his first two seasons, each of which required surgery to repair a torn ACL -- one in each knee. On top of the two knee surgeries, Jones also had to overcome a position change.
Originally recruited as a cornerback, he switched to wide receiver before his freshman year to give Minnesota some depth at the position. The 5-foot-8, 166-pound Jones then transitioned back to cornerback before this season. He was also slotted to return kicks and punts after Minnesota lost returner Troy Stoudermire to graduation.
It may have been surprising to some to see a player with multiple ACL injuries returning kicks for the Gophers. The success Jones has had in the first two weeks has certainly surprised people -- including himself.
"I do think I'm surprising some people. I've surprised myself," Jones said. "Nobody expected me to be where I am. I didn't expect to be where I am. But I'm glad I've got this opportunity. I've worked hard and I will continue to work hard to try to help this team out and make our special teams more explosive."
Jones will also have a chance to contribute more on defense due to an injury to cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who suffered a torn ACL in last week's game against New Mexico State. Jones can certainly relate to what Boddy-Calhoun is going through and sympathizes with his teammate.
At the same time, Boddy-Calhoun's absence will likely mean more snaps on defense for Jones, who has six total tackles at cornerback through two games.
"All of us have to step up now and try to assume the role that Boddy did," Jones said. "Boddy was a great corner for us the first two games. Now that he's injured, we have to not lose a step. Next man up, as coach (Jerry) Kill always says. Somebody has to step up and do the job."
So far, Jones has done his job and stepped up on both special teams and defense. He's made more of an impact on special teams than he ever did at wide receiver -- Jones caught a combined 15 passes for 209 yards during his freshman and sophomore seasons, both of which were shortened by injuries.
Now healthy again, Jones is out to prove people wrong. Himself included.
"You're talking about a kid who's had two ACL [surgeries], his natural position was corner, he gave that up when he came here to help out until we got some recruiting going on the receiving side, went back to corner," Kill said after Minnesota's season-opening win. "We talk about being good teammates and you've got to give up some things to win and that's the best example I could ever give you, so I'm happy for him."
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