Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had the fewest receptions, fewest receiving yards and fewest touchdown receptions of his three NFL seasons in 2023.

After joining the Dolphins as the sixth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft from Alabama’s 2020 undefeated CFP national-championship team, Waddle broke the NFL rookie record for receptions by catching 104 passes. In his second season, Waddle led the NFL with an average of 18.1 yards per reception.

In 2023, Waddle missed three games but still finished as a 1,000-yard receiver for the third time with 72 receptions for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns.

Miami teammate Tyreek Hill led the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards in 2023, and the former West Alabama standout expects a big season from Waddle in 2024.

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“I’d say All-Pro this year,” Hill said about Waddle on Monday. “He’s taken his game to another level in the classroom. He’s taking it more serious. He’s moved to the back of the classroom with me and River (Cracraft), so he’s sitting beside us now. He’s asking more questions, which is great. He’s very eager to get better. And for me, I believe that’s where it starts.

“To be able to take your game to the next level at a not-ideal receiver size — you’re fast, you’re twitchy — you got to be able to do it in the classroom, and he’s done a great job taking advice from our (wide-receivers) coach, Wes (Welker), (offensive assistant) coach (Jonathan) Krause and all of the older guys in our room. I expect All-Pro, WR One, all of that — lead our team.”

The Dolphins gained more yards than any other team in the NFL last season, and just as he expects more from Waddle in 2024, Hill said the Miami offense should be more productive, too.

“(Quarterback) Tua (Tagovailoa) has done a great job of overcommunicating exactly what he wants as far as details and routes,” Hill said, “and Mike (McDaniel), our head coach, he has given him the keys to the car, which is even more of a beautiful thing. I believe with that, that gives all of us the ability to play free and just be ourselves and just to be creative within our routes.”

Tagovailoa’s new assertiveness has been a topic of discussion as the former Alabama All-American prepares for his fifth NFL season.

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“I’m going to keep pounding the table and keep saying that he’s more vocal,” Hill said. “He’s more vocal in the huddle, he’s more vocal in the locker room, he’s vocal everywhere — like everywhere. I walk inside of this building, you’re going to hear Tua’s mouth like to the point where I’m like, ‘I wish you’d shut up now.’

“He’s been great, though. Tua is a great teammate, and he does a great job of just overcommunicating to all the wideouts even if it is a good rep. Good rep or bad rep, he’s always coming up to us making sure we see that route or that play the same as him. And he does that with everybody on the offense, which I think is a great thing, versus when I first came in here, we’d run a play and then it’d be like ‘Where’s Tua at? I need to talk to him about this play.’ Versus now, he’s coming to find you. It’s a beautiful thing to see.

“The same thing that Pat (Mahomes) used to do back in KC, making sure that guys see it the same as him. It’s great.”

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The Dolphins will kick off their season against the Jacksonville Jaguars at noon CDT Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Miami is seeking a third consecutive playoff berth for the first time since a five-year run from 1997 through 2001. That’s also the last time the Dolphins won a postseason game.

“We’re all excited,” Hill said. “We got a lot of weapons, a lot of playmakers on this team, man. Everybody is on the very edge of their seats just waiting for this moment. These three days we had off, all I could think about is just lining up, playing alongside of the guys on offense. I’m very excited. Every year is another opportunity to win games and create memories with a great group of guys. …

“This is our best team we’ve had since we’ve been here. What a time to be alive, to be a Dolphins fan.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.