Jay Ajayi, Cameron Wake and Kenny Stills all had excellent seasons for the Miami Dolphins. On Friday, they were all rewarded as the Dolphins announced their team awards.
Ajayi was named the 2016 Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award winner. The award was voted on by the South Florida media and the Dolphins organization.
Wake won the Don Shula Leadership Award. For his work in the South Florida community, Stills won the Nat Moore Community Service Award.
In his second season, Ajayi rushed for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns. Ajayi rushed for over 200 yards in three games (Pittsburgh Steelers and twice against the Buffalo Bills) this season. Ricky Williams is the only Dolphins player that has rushed for more yards in a season (2002 and 2003).
Ajayi is third running back to win the Dolphins team MVP joining Ricky Williams (2002, 2009) and Keith Byars (1993).
Wake won the Don Shula Leadership Award for the third time in his career and the Ed Block Courage Award after coming back from a devastating injury he suffered a season ago. The seventh game of the 2015 season against the New England Patriots, Wake tore his Achilles’ tendon and missed the rest of the season.
At age 34, Wake had one of his finest seasons of his career as he recorded 11.5 sacks, which tied for sixth in the NFL He recorded 10.5 sacks once he was named a starter in Week 6. Wake also won the Don Shula Leadership Award in 2013 and 2014.
The Nat Moore Community Service Award is given each year to a Miami Dolphins player recognized for his involvement in the South Florida community. Stills was the Dolphins most active player in community Tuesdays. This year, Stills visited three schools, two hospitals, participated in a back-to-school backpack distribution, handed out toys for the holidays and assisted in Make-A-Wish visits to the team. He also along with teammates Arian Foster, Jelani Jenkins and Michael Thomas hosted a town hall meeting with community leaders, law enforcement and coaches, funded a community tailgate with tickets and refreshments for each home game and took part in a ride-a-long with the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Along with his community work, Stills has had a solid season for the Dolphins as he recorded 42 catches, 726 yards and nine touchdowns during the 2016 regular season.
Twitter: @antwanstaley
