Dolphins fans happy former Alabama and Hillgrove standout Kenyan Drake to assume bigger rushing role

With Miami Dolphins starting running back Jay Ajayi on his way to the Philadelphia Eagles, the leader of the Dolphins running game is open for the taking.

One of the two guys that Miami will lean on to try and jump start a lackluster rushing attack will be former Hillgrove High School and Alabama back Kenyan Drake.

The third-year running back will look to get the Dolphins -- who rank No. 31 in the NFL in rush yards per game at 76.4 ypg -- back on track.

Drake was taken in the third-round of the 2016 draft. In his rookie year he averaged 5.4 yards per carry on 33 attempts, while also factoring into the Dolphins return game. He averaged 30.5 yards per return on his 13 kickoff returns, including taking one 96 yards for a touchdown.

This season, his numbers have dipped a little bit as he has carried the ball 10 times for 25 yards, while averaging 21 yards per return on three kickoff returns.

Drake is expected to split the running back duties with fourth-year man Damien Williams. However, many fans are clamoring for the former Crimson Tide man to take over the starting role.