MANKATO — Percy Harvin’s kickoff returning ability turned into a hidden talent last year.

After bringing back the season’s opening kick for a 103-yard touchdown, Harvin had only 15 other chances the rest of the way because of the NFL’s new touchback-friendly rules and the coaching staff’s conservative use of Minnesota’s most versatile offensive player.

This time, the Vikings sound like they’re ready to let Harvin show off more of that skill.

Of the eight longest kickoff returns in Vikings history, Harvin has four, all 95 yards or more. His 32.5-yard per-return average last season was the highest in the NFL among those with more than five attempts.

“We’re going to have a good plan with Percy this year. He is our number one kickoff returner,” special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. “When we have the opportunity to use him, we’re going to use him. If he’s not back there for whatever reason, we’re going to train two or three other guys to make sure we have a capable backup, and we’ll go from there.”

Rookie Josh Robinson and Jarius Wright are two intriguing candidates, but Harvin will always be the favorite provided he’s not too worn out or beat up from his duties as a receiver and a runner. He carried the ball 52 times and caught 87 passes last season, a total of 50 more touches than the year before. Plus, there’s his physically punishing running style and history of migraine headaches.