From high school to the National Football League, Kenyan Drake has been known as an elite playmaker at running back.
In paying homage to a fallen friend and teammate, Altee Tenpenny, he recorded a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Alabama football’s 45-40 win over Clemson in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship off the 2015 season.
Drake has now posted back-to-back seasons with 1,000+ all-purpose yards, but in his third year, the former third-round pick of the 2016 draft provided the Dolphins with a huge award in Saturday night’s ceremony for NFL Honors.
While the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Donald and Saquon Barkley owned the stage, Drake’s heroics against New England on Dec. 9, 2018 earned Miami the Clutch Performance Play of the Year honor via Bridgestone Tires.
The @Bridgestone Clutch Performance Play of the Year…
The Miami Miracle! ?? pic.twitter.com/CPrk775BrD
— NFL (@NFL) February 2, 2019
Dubbed the nickname “Miami Miracle,” the play happened with seven seconds remaining in regulation and the Dolphins having the ball on its own 31-yard line.
Trailing 33-28, quarterback Ryan Tannehill found Kenny Stills on a slant pass and the craziness started to unfold.
The talented wide receiver from Oklahoma would then lateral the ball to DeVante Parker, who then found Kenyan Drake speeding along the sideline. After making a couple of defenders miss and weaving his way outside, Drake created an awkward angle for Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski to tackle him and walked into the end zone as time expired.
RELATED: Watch: Kenyan Drake scores ‘miracle’ TD in final seconds to beat Patriots
In jubilation, he threw the ball into the stands as Miami shocked New England with a 34-33 comeback victory at Hard Rock Stadium. Drake ended the season with 535 yards rushing, 477 yards receiving and 213 kick return yards (1,225 all-purpose) with nine touchdowns.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
