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Numerical Roster Countdown 2014: Day 27, Jay Ajayi

By Drew Roberts
Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

Fall Camp opened today, unless you hadn't heard.

We've got 27 days till kickoff...so today, we'll be highlighting #27 on the Bronco roster--Jay Ajayi

#27, Jay Ajayi, Junior, RB

Ajayi_medium

Stats

Height: 6’0"

Weight: 216 lbs

High School: Frisco Liberty High School, Plano, Texas

How’d he get to the Blue?

Ajayi was a rushing machine at Frisco Liberty High school where he rushed for an unreal 2,240 yards on 225 carries and 35 touchdowns as a senior. For those of us bad at math, that is 9.5 yards a carry, His breakout senior season saw him named 2nd team all-state and the Collin County Player of the Year. As a junior Ajayi rushed for 1,627 yards on 209 carries (7.7 YPC average) and 20 TDs. Despite making the roster for the 2011 Parade All-America team, Ajayi only received offers from, Minnesota, Tulane, Wyoming, and New Mexico State. He chose the team that wins a lot.

Nickname

"Brahma Bull"

I don't recall getting a vote on the matter, but apparently this IS Jay's nickname 'round the practice facility. Of course, that was before all this:

Look Alike

Kool

(The bricks are opposing D-lines)

Career Highlights

Named to the 2014 preseason Walter Camp watch list. Named to the 2014 preseason Maxwell Award watch list. Named to the 2014 preseason Doak Walker Award watch list. Named a 2014 "Player to Watch" by Columbus Touchdown Club. Named first team All-MWC for 2013 season after rushing for 1,425 yards and 18 TDs. Named Academic All-MWC in 2013. Rushed for career-high 222 yards against Nevada in 2013. Played in 11 games for Broncos in 2012. Second on team in rushing (548 yards) in 2012. MWC All-Academic selection in 2012. Named second team all state as a Senior, first team all conference as a junior and senior, and made roster of Parade All-American high school football in 2011.

2014 Prospectus

Ponder this for a moment. Jay Ajayi averages 6.0 yards per carry over his career. That's not a one-off garbage time absurd YPC average either. Ajayi has carried the ball 331 times in his still short Bronco career, and on average, after he totes the rock on 1st and 10, the Broncos are left with a manageable 2nd and 4. Of course, last season, the next play would've probably been a 2-yard loss on a bubble screen, BUT STILL! Ajayi is the clear-cut starter at running back, which is nice because it frees up time that we can devote to deciding who his primary back up should be (my vote: Clone Ajayi) and wringing our hands about if he will or won't return for his senior season. There will be plenty of time for those prop bets, but in the meantime, just enjoy Ajayi while you can. He's a rare talent and fun as heck to watch tote the rock. As Ajayi goes this season, the offense goes and I have a feeling things are going to go well. Since Ajayi has put up some rather gaudy numbers in his two years playing on The Blue, I'll jinx him terribly and say I think he's a Doak Walker finalist this season and gets to the 1,500 yard plateau. Attack, Jay!

Is he on Twitter?

Thankfully.

Completely made up fact

Ajayi's pickle juice guzzling routine has inspired a host of imitators amongst his running back brethren. Charles Bertoli has taken to downing Sriracha shots on the sideline while Jack Fields has been brushing his teeth with Vlasic sweet pickle relish.