Bonner, called the second-fastest Dolphin, addresses where he stands after playoff snaps

For much of this past season, Ethan Bonner was little more than an obscure novelty, the rare white cornerback who was identified by Tyreek Hill as the second-fastest player on the team, behind only, well, Hill.

Bonner stands as something far more than that now.

The Dolphins’ decisions to elevate Bonner for three late-season games — and play him ahead of healthy second-round pick Cam Smith and established veteran Nik Needham in the playoff game at Kansas City — suggest they see something promising in their undrafted rookie from Stanford.

And Bonner senses that, too, to the point that his goal isn’t merely to make the 53-man roster next season but to secure a meaningful role.

The No. 1 goal, he said after the playoff loss, is “definitely carving out a role to play. Special teams, getting in with [special teams coordinator] Danny Crossman, gaining some of his trust, hopefully play some gunner, and be a core special teams player but also be able to play on defense and get a role there.

“They have faith in me, trust in me to do my job when my number is called. That’s something to build on for next year, for sure, and hopefully get some more playing time next year.”

Bonner went under the radar as an NFL prospect because he wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine and played just 21 college games in four years at Stanford, with five passes defended and no interceptions. But Bonner said that at least two Dolphins coaches were impressed when they evaluated his tape before the draft.

His speed didn’t hurt; he was a high school track standout in Texas. And at Stanford’s Pro Day, his 40-yard dash time was a blazing 4.39 seconds.

“I had a lot of injuries in college,” he told The Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and Si.com in October. “Never had an outstanding season like I wanted. I’ve always kind of had that chip on my shoulder. Always felt like the underdog.”

His motivation to sign with Miami after the draft stemmed from defensive backs coach “Renaldo [Hill] and [coordinator] Vic Fangio liking my film and seeing me as a player they could plug and play,” he told The Miami Herald after the season ended.

“And playing with Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey, I knew that would be a good place to take pages out of their book and learn from two of the best in the game. That was a huge draw for me to come here.”

Bonner said he cross-trained at safety at times this season when the team was short-handed at the position, but the Dolphins see him primarily as a boundary cornerback.

“I played some inside [slot corner] on the scout team,” he said. “But I never got like actual defensive reps at nickel. I pride myself on being a smart player and being able to play wherever I need to. If they need me to play inside next year, I can do that.”

His strengths as a corner?

“I think I can run with just about anybody, any receiver,” he said. “I have a lot of faith in my speed. I’m long, physical. I know I can tackle. And my versatility — being able to play any position in the secondary — that’s also a good strength that can add some value.”

But is he really the second-fastest player on the team, as Hill claims?

“De’Von Achane is pretty fast,” he said last month. “I might beat that old man [Raheem] Mostert but I don’t know about Achane. Maybe we will all race one day.”

During training camp, Hill and Bonner were timed as the fastest players on the team at 22 mph.

“Not a lot of people expect me to be fast,” Bonner said.

Bonner knew that the NFL has had a white cornerback play extensive snaps since Jason Sehorn for the Giants very early this century.

“I want to be that next Jason Sehorn,” he said in October. “And prove that I can do it.”

He said teams “see a white guy and they’re like, ‘OK yeah, let’s go after him.’”

His 11 defensive snaps in the playoff game matched his total for the regular season; as a practice squad player, he was elevated the maximum-permitted three times during the regular season.

By the final game, he had surpassed not only Smith (the second-round rookie) but veterans Justin Bethel and Needham and practice squad cornerback Parry Nickerson. Now he will need to impress a new defensive coordinator, after the departure of Fangio to Philadelphia.

“Just getting a big game like that [in Kansas City], getting some reps under my belt, I think that will pay dividends going forward, games in the future,” he said. “I think having them believe in me being ready, is a huge part.”