The 2019 Miami Dolphins will have a totally new look with the exception of name and logo.

The Dolphins brought in new head coach Brian Flores, the former linebackers coach for the New England Patriots. The South Florida team also brought in former Patriots wide receiver coach, Chad O’Shea, to be the offensive play caller.

These changes will have a huge impact on the team as a whole, especially for one player in particular, former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake.

The once two-time National Champion with the Crimson Tide will head into his fourth — and final — season under contract with the Dolphins. Many are wondering how crucial this year will be for the back to impress the team and re-sign.

After the 2019 season, the third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft will be an unrestricted free agent, which means that he’s free to sign with any team or stick with Miami on a new contract.

He has had minimal competition in his time in Miami, sharing snaps with future Hall of Fame inductee Frank Gore and now a handful of young talent that the Dolphins recently drafted.

Drake’s main competition in 2019 will be Kalen Ballage, the sophomore back out of Arizona State, who once tied the record for most touchdowns (8) scored in a Division I game back in 2016.

Fans can also expect to see some rookies get some snaps in the backfield with Chandler Cox, the fullback from Auburn, and Myles Gaskins, the running back from Washington.

There is no question that Drake will be the lead back, but rather if he will perform to the caliber expected by the organization in order to re-sign or extend him.

In his first three seasons with the franchise, Drake managed to accumulate 2,120 yards from scrimmage (1,358 on the ground, 762 in the air), 15 total touchdowns and average 4.7 yards per rush attempt.

His numbers may not be as flashy as others throughout the league, and are far from the most consistent, but Dolphins fans have continued to hold on to some hope that he’ll find his stride.

With Drake, the team has a single playoff appearance, a first in the last ten years, and it was during his sophomore season.

The stage is set for Drake to have a “breakout season,” a term many used for the young running back last year.

With a defensive minded head coach, an offensive coordinator who has more experience working directly with receivers and a new quarterback, regardless of whether it’s Ryan Fitzpatrick or Josh Rosen, Drake has to make this season count — and he knows it.

Minimal competition in the backfield means that Drake should get an overwhelming majority of the snaps this season. With those snaps, he must do everything he can to have 2019 stand out among his previous seasons.

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t on my mind. I can only look myself in the mirror and say, I gave my best, and my best was what I put out here” Drake said when referring to the 2019 season being his final one under contract, as reported by Cameron Wolfe of EPSN.

People have pointed the blame for his inconsistency towards former coaching staffs, former quarterback Ryan Tannehill and other areas of the franchise, but Drake knows it is all up to him this season to make that impact.

The 25-year-old back has plenty of time to perfect his craft this off-season as the Dolphins will take on the Baltimore Ravens at home on Sept. 9 for Week 1 of the NFL regular season.