Heading into the 2016 season, the Miami Dolphins’ starting running back job appeared to be Arian Foster’s to lose. Not only did Foster lose the starting role, he ultimately retired because of the emergence of Jay Ajayi.

After not playing in the Dolphins’ season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, Ajayi became the leading rusher after starting in only 12 games. Last season, Ajayi finished fourth in the NFL in rushing after running for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns.

In three games in 2016, Ajayi ran for over 200 yards, including back-to-back weeks against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6 and the Buffalo Bills in Week 7. Because of his superb season, Ajayi was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team in just his second year in the league.

During offseason workouts this spring, Ajayi spoke about how he has worked on different aspects of his game, including his route running and catching the ball out of the backfield.

“During college, I was a guy who was able to catch the ball out of the backfield and also run,” Ajayi said. “I prided myself in being able to do everything and be on the field for the whole game. Getting into the NFL, I know it’s a lot different, but I still believe I have that skillset. It was really about developing it even more now at this level and trying to push myself to become elite. That’s really what I’ve been working on, knowing that I have the skillset and really putting the hammer to the nail and working tirelessly at it (so) I can go out there Sundays and really become that weapon that I want to be.”

As Ajayi enters 2017 as the team’s starting running back, coach Adam Gase said during the spring that Ajayi could carry the ball close to 350 times this year. The running back said he would welcome the challenge.

“If that’s the case, then I’ll be completely for it, and I’m ready for that,” Ajayi said. “That’s what I’m preparing myself to do. We’ll see what happens this year as the season comes up. Each game plan each week, like you said, could be different; but I know for myself personally, I’ll be ready to carry the ball however many times I have to.”