Sophomore Marcus Thigpen makes switch from receiver to running back

Marcus Thigpen is in a transition phase. Not a difficult phase, the sophomore said, but a transition nonetheless. \nAfter finishing the 2005 season as IU's second-leading receiver, the coaching staff asked Thigpen how he felt about moving back to his natural position -- running back.\n"It's been pretty easy because it's just something I'm used to doing," said Thigpen, who played running back in high school. "Just learning the plays, that's the hardest part. Receivers are a little fancier. As a running back, you've got to be a bruiser, be able to hit and take hits so I work harder, I lift harder."\nAfter redshirting as a freshman in 2004, Thigpen had a breakout year last season. He pulled down 32 receptions for 432 yards with two touchdowns, even though he originally signed with IU as a running back.\nFor the upcoming 2006 season, the Hoosiers will need to replace their two leading rushers, Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington, who combined for 1,271 rushing yards. But that was only part of the reason for Thigpen's switch from wide receiver to running back, the coaching staff said.\n"We made the move knowing Marcus is an explosive player," said IU assistant coach Gerald Brown, the running backs and special teams assistant. "We feel like if he gets enough touches, that with his speed and explosive play, he can make big plays for us. That was a lot of it, to get the ball in his hands."\nAs a senior at Mumford High in Detroit, Thigpen rushed for 1,785 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading the Detroit Public School League in both categories. The sophomore said knows he can help IU's offense and is looking forward to his move back to the backfield.\n"My preference is running back," Thigpen said. "Being a receiver was a big change for me because I've been a running back since I was 8."\nThough Thigpen is expected to start, he will have to earn his position among a slew of other young Hoosier running backs. \n"The position is still wide open," Brown said. "Everybody's fighting for their job. I feel really good about the guys in the backfield. We don't have a lot of experience, but I think we're a talented bunch."\nThigpen is leaving behind another talented bunch in the receiving corps that returns six players who each caught at least 10 receptions last season. One of those returning receivers is senior Jahkeen Gilmore, IU's third-leading receiver behind sophomore James Hardy and Thigpen.\n"We've got a lot of talented young guys that redshirted last year that without a doubt are stepping up their games," Gilmore said. "We (the offense) can definitely be a lot better than we were last year. We're going to bring some more consistency and speed to the game."\nWith two weeks of spring practice under their belts, Thigpen and the Hoosiers realize the offense might not have much experience, but they say they are pleased with the progress the team has made so far.\n"We have a young offense, but we can be lethal next year," he said.