Jay Ajayi Will Be the Breakout Rookie of 2015

The NFL is known as a pass-first league, and rookie running backs aren’t valued as highly as they once were. This season, former Boise State Broncos running back and Miami Dolphins fifth-round pick Jay Ajayi will shatter the mold and emerge as one of the top prospects out of this year’s NFL draft class.

The 2014 season showcased some impressive rookie running backs, including former LSU Tiger and Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill. The 2014 second-round pick recorded 1,124 rushing yards and nine touchdowns last season and helped eliminate the idea that rookie running backs like Ajayi can’t make an instant impact in the NFL.

Ajayi rose to the national spotlight after a record-breaking senior season for the Broncos. In 2014, he became the only player in FBS history to record at least 1,800 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season.

Ajayi is one of the best pure athletes to enter the NFL in a long time. A former high school soccer player in Nigeria, Ajayi once had aspirations to join the Nigerian national soccer team before committing to football after his junior year in high school.

Throughout the predraft process, many teams praised Ajayi’s all-around skill set and ability.

“Of all the backs in this draft, Ajayi might be my favorite because he can do everything you want from a back,” one AFC scout told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein before this year’s draft. “You don't have to find a complementary back to pick up the slack for him in any one area.”

One of the main reasons Ajayi was so successful in college was his ability to make big plays in space.

Ajayi is "able to string together multiple moves at a time,” Zierlein said. He "shows enough wiggle to make defenders miss and can create and improvise if creases aren't offering much.”

The 6’0”, 221-pound running back showcased his playmaking ability this season against Arizona at the 2015 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Ajayi is physical for his size and makes his best plays after contact. Due to his powerful running style, Zierlein believes that Ajayi could have a career similar to Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.

Ajayi demonstrated his physicality against Colorado State during the 2014 season.

What makes Ajayi different from the other rookie running backs is his ability to make big plays as a receiver. In college, he recorded 771 receiving yards and averaged 10.6 yards per reception. His versatility as an offensive weapon could give NFL defenses problems in the future.

There are few concerns regarding Ajayi’s overall skill set and potential, but a knee injury he suffered and an off-field issue during the 2011 season made his draft stock plummet. Ajayi allegedly stole sweatpants from a local clothing store while at Boise State before tearing his ACL during spring practice a week later.

Ajayi took the necessary measures to turn his life around and hasn’t been in trouble with the law since 2011. Many teams removed Ajayi from their draft boards due to long-term durability issues, but his stats improved each season after his injury.

Year	Rush Attempts	Yards	Touchdowns	Yards Per Carry
2012	82	548	4	6.7
2013	249	1,425	18	5.7
2014	347	1,823	28	5.3

While many believe that Ajayi’s long-term NFL future is questionable, some experts believe that he could be a perfect fit for the Dolphins.

Ajayi could be the immediate starter for the Dolphins if he can beat out incumbent starter Lamar Miller. Miller is in his final year of his rookie contract with the Dolphins and may look to play elsewhere after a solid 2014 campaign. Last season, Miller rushed for 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns after running back Knowshon Moreno suffered a torn ACL against the Green Bay Packers.

Even if Ajayi doesn’t play right away for the Dolphins, he has the potential to eventually be one of the top running backs in the league if he stays healthy and out of trouble.

Follow Curtis on Twitter: @CalhounCurtis