23 Choice, Tashard
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Running Back
Height: 5-10
Weight: 215
College: Georgia Tech
Years: R
COLLEGE: Tashard Choice was the second running back drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2008 NFL Draft when he was selected in the fourth round (122nd overall). Choice will team with veteran Pro Bowler Marion Barber and Dallas's 2008 first round selection Felix Jones to bolster the Cowboys running game. Choice adds another game-breaking talent to the Dallas backfield after leading the ACC in rushing through his final two collegiate seasons, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat since Thomas Jones (Virginia, 1998-99). In that same span, he became the first Georgia Tech back to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, rushing for 1,473 yards as a junior and 1,379 as a senior. He finished his collegiate career as the school's record holder with 18 100-yard games, was third with 28 rushing touchdowns and fourth with 3,465 rushing yards. He started his collegiate campaign at Oklahoma and redshirted his first year (2003). He was Adrian Peterson's backup in 2004 before transferring to Georgia Tech for the 2005 year. Choice started 27 of the 38 games he played at Tech. He not only will be called upon out of the backfield, but will have to demonstrate to Dallas coaches an ability to play on special teams units.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
4/27/08: Drafted in the fourth round (122nd overall) by Dallas.
2007:
- All-America honorable mention by The NFL Draft Report and Sports Illustrated and a Doak Walker Award candidate.
- Earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors from the league's coaches and media, leading the team and conference - ranked 18th in the nation - with 1,379 yards and 10 touchdowns on 261 carries.
- Became the first player to lead the conference in rushing in consecutive seasons since Virginia's Jones (1998 and 1999).
- Added 14 receptions for 107 yards and completed one pass for a 17-yard touchdown against North Carolina.
- Missed a game and a half after suffering a right knee sprain that required surgery, but returned to start the final four games of the season.
- Had a string of 341 consecutive carries (from 2006-07) without a fumble snapped when he lost the ball against Maryland.
- Rushed for 100 yards-or-more in seven contests and had three two-touchdown games.
- Opened his final campaign against Notre Dame with a then game-best 196 rushing yards, only to top it against Miami with 204.
2006:
- Was an academic All-ACC first-team selection and added All-ACC second-team honors after leading the conference and ranking 13th in the nation with 1,473 rushing yards - the second-best single-season total in school history.
- Had 12 touchdowns and averaged 5.0 yards-per-rush on a school record 297 attempts.
- Set a school record with nine 100-yard performances on the season, including a string of seven consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards to close out the season.
- Started all 14 games in his first season as Tech's starting tailback.
- Tacked on 12 receptions for 98 yards to total 1,571 all-purpose yards.
- Finished the season with a then career-high 169 rushing yards on 27 carries against West Virginia in the Toyota Gator Bowl to be named to the All-Bowl team by ESPN.com.
- Also added four catches for 32 yards in the bowl game to record a career-best 201 all-purpose yards.
2005:
- After transferring from the University of Oklahoma, was eligible to play after the NCAA granted a waiver of the residency requirement.
- Was Georgia Tech's second-leading rusher in his first season, finishing with 513 yards while tying for the team lead with six touchdowns as a reserve running back.
- Added 14 catches for 76 yards.
- Rushed for a season-best 107 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Duke.
- Logged his first start in the Yellow Jackets win over third-ranked Miami and finished with 84 yards on a season-high 29 carries.
2004:
- Spent redshirt freshman season as a backup behind Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma.
- Had 22 carries for 100 yards and was an Academic All-Big XII selection.
- Rushed for a season-best 71 yards on 16 carries against Texas Tech. PERSONAL
- Was a first-team all-state pick and ranked as the 22nd-best running back in the nation by Rivals.com as a senior at Lovejoy High School in Hampton, Geo.
- Finished his prep career with 129 carries for 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns.
- Had his high school jersey retired.
- Graduated from Tech in December 2007 with a degree in history, technology and society and was a two-time member of the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll.
- Cousin, Joe Burns, was a standout running back at Georgia Tech (1998-2001) and later played for the Buffalo Bills.
Hey, this is why we drafted Choice, he reminded the Cowboys organization of Barber. I think he will fill in just fine.