He already has lofty ambitions for a new role, but Keaton Mitchell is doing more for the Baltimore Ravens than simply filling a void on special teams. The third-year running back is helping the team find a new “identity” in a key area of football’s third phase.

Specifically, Mitchell taking on kick returner’s duties is helping special teams coordinator Chris Horton reshape his unit. Horton explained how after Mitchell caught the eye as one of the standouts during the first week of training camp.

As Horton put it, “Obviously, Keaton has done a tremendous job for us when he has been back there, just the body type, the style of play. It took us a while to really figure out our identity and who we wanted to be as a kickoff return unit. As the season went on late in the year, those body types, those running back body types, they’re used to bouncing off tacklers. So, it allowed for that type of player to really have success back there,” per Ravens.com Editorial Director Ryan Mink.

That’s quite the changeup after the Ravens spent years relying on wide receivers to return kicks. Players like the late Jacoby Jones and All-Pro Devin Duvernay thrived in the role, but the Ravens have struggled to find worthy successors.

Mitchell can help Horton shift emphasis in the return game, but still retain invaluable potential for big plays.