JONESBORO -- J.D. McKissic saw teammates Booker Mays, Johston White and Calob Caston throw blocks in the second quarter Saturday night in Toledo, Ohio.
He just caught the ball and ran.
"I had the easy job," McKissic said.
Arkansas State' senior wide receiver certainly made it look easy when he caught a Toledo kickoff on the right hash, darted through a hole at the 25, then another at the 45, and raced untouched over the final 50 yards for a 92-yard touchdown in last week's 37-7 loss to the Rockets.
It was one of only a few positive plays during a rough night for the Red Wolves, but it might have signaled something they have been wanting to see since the end of last season.
McKissic finally looked healthy.
"This is the guy that we all knew was possible," ASU Coach Blake Anderson said. "His body just didn't allow him to be that last year."
McKissic fought through shoulder, knee and ankle injuries last season and this spring but vowed in fall camp that he was finally healthy again. He showed it in flashes through the first three games -- his 49-yard touchdown catch against Missouri Stat was his first in two years -- before bursting back onto the scene last weekend.
It appears he has returned to his 2013 form as a reliable receiver, with a team-high 23 catches for 244 yards, but also as one of the game's most dangerous kick returners.
McKissic returned seven kickoffs for 211 yards to set an ASU single-season record Saturday night, and his 406 kickoff return yards are the most in the FBS.
"I love special teams," McKissic said. "It's a play you can promise 40 yards on. It's just something you can reverse the field on. Field position is a big thing."
Anderson said he's noticed that McKissic has invested more time in his special teams duties this year. McKissic doesn't necessarily agree -- he's always enjoyed playing a few extra snaps -- but he understands the importance. Now, as a senior, McKissic hopes his special teams skills can be a route to the next level.
Despite statistics that suggest consistency -- he's ASU's all-time leader in receptions and is three catches shy of the Sun Belt Conference record -- McKissic isn't likely to be drafted. CBSSports.com draft analysts rank the 5-11, 193-pounder the 78th best draft-eligible receiver for 2016 -- 35 receivers were taken in last year's draft -- but his ability as a kick returner could get him a shot.
Then it's up to him.
"Anything I can do to get to the next level, I'm going to do that," McKissic said. "So, if Coach tells me to be the gunner, I'll be the gunner and I'll run as fast as I can and be the first one to make the tackle."
McKissic has a handful of examples who used special teams as a way to get onto an NFL roster. Joshua Cribbs was undrafted out of Kent State in 2005, but his return skills made him a three-time Pro Bowl player with the Cleveland Browns. Former Western Kentucky running back Bobby Rainey also went undrafted in 2012 but is in his third season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a return specialist.
McKissic likes to model his game after another player, former Troy standout Jerrel Jernigan, who played high school football with McKissic's older brother. Jernigan holds the Sun Belt career receptions record (262) and McKissic, the active career leader, has 260.
Jernigan spent four seasons with the New York Giants in part because of his return skills. His best season came in 2013 when he caught 29 passes for 329 yards and averaged 22.4 yards on 11 kick returns. Jernigan suffered a foot injury last season and was cut during the offseason.
"He didn't get as much playing time as he wanted, but it got him there," McKissic said.
McKissic hopes he can follow a similar path to the same place. He has at least eight games remaining at ASU, starting with Saturday's Sun Belt opener against Idaho.
There is a good chance he will break the Sun Belt's all-time receptions record in the game. McKissic already holds five school receiving records, and he's 186 receiving yards away from breaking the school's career mark.
But first is Jernigan's mark, which McKissic has been eyeing since the offseason.
"If I'm not mistaken, I think it's three catches," McKissic said this week. "It's been on my mind. I'm just ready to get it over with."
Sports on 10/02/2015