Tashard Choice proved to be the unquestioned leader of the Georgia Tech offense and one of the toughest players in college football.

Well on his way to another banner campaign in 2007, he suffered a right knee injury on Oct. 20 vs. Army and underwent surgery three days later. After sitting out the Virginia Tech game, Choice was back on the field, recording a trio of 100-yard performances over his final four contests.

Choice led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing in 2006 and '07 seasons, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat since Thomas Jones of Virginia (1998-99). He also became the first Tech player to produce back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns, totaling 1,473 yards as a junior and 1,379 yards in his final season.

The talented running back finished his career as the school's record-holder with 18 100-yard rushing performances. He ranks third in Tech annals with 28 touchdowns on the ground and fourth with 3,465 yards rushing. His 3,646 all-purpose yards rank seventh in Yellow Jacket annals.

Choice's stellar career at Lovejoy High School led to the school retiring his jersey. He was a first-team All-State pick and rated the 14th-best player in the state of Georgia by Super Prep. He also ranked as the 22nd-best running back in the nation by Rivals.com. He rushed for 1,200 yards on 129 carries as a senior and also had 600 yards receiving while scoring 17 touchdowns.

The tailback enrolled at the University of Oklahoma in 2003, spending the season performing on the scout team. He played in eight games behind All-American Adrian Peterson in 2004, gaining 100 yards on 22 carries (wore jersey #2 for the Sooners), as he earned Academic All-Big Twelve Conference honors.

Sensing the continuation of a limited role behind Peterson, Choice was granted his scholarship release, transferring from Oklahoma to Georgia Tech in 2005, where his cousin, Joe Burns (ex-Buffalo Bills) was a standout tailback for the Yellow Jackets (1998-2001). He played behind P.J. Daniels that season, garnering Academic All-Atlantic Coast Conference accolades. He totaled 513 yards with six touchdowns on 117 attempts (4.4-yard average), as he also made 14 catches for 76 yards (5.4 avg).

Despite leading the conference and ranking 13th in the nation in rushing, Choice was only a second-team All-ACC pick in 2006, as he took over tailback chores. He was again named Academic All-ACC, powering his way for a career-high 1,473 yards on 297 rushes (5.0-yard average) with 12 touchdowns. His 1,473 yards rank second on the school's season rushing list. He also gained 98 yards on 12 catches, totaling 1,571 all-purpose yards as a junior.

The league coaches acknowledged Choice with a first-team All-ACC berth in 2007. Despite missing one game and a half of another, he still led the league in rushing, picking up 1,379 yards with 10 scores on 261 attempts (5.3-yard average). He snared 14 passes for 107 yards and also completed a 17-yard pass for a touchdown. His 1,486 all-purpose yards placed him sixth on the ACC leader boards.

In 38 games at Georgia Tech, Choice started 27 contests. He rushed 675 times for 3,365 yards (5.0-yard average) and 28 touchdowns, adding 281 yards on 40 receptions (7.0 avg). He hit on his only pass attempt for a 17-yard touchdown, recorded two solo tackles and scored 168 points while amassing 3,646 all-purpose yards.

Including eight games at Oklahoma, Choice's college career encompassed 46 contests. He registered 3,465 yards on 697 carries (5.0-yard average), scoring 28 times. He had 41 receptions for 288 yards (7.0 avg) and registered 3,753 all-purpose yards.

Positives: Has a thick, strong lower body, but needs additional development in his upper body and will need to put in extra hours in the weight room adding bulk and getting stronger to compete at the next level … Meat-and-potatoes type of downhill runner who might lack the strength to consistently move the pile, but gets by on instincts, feel for pressure and patience following his blocks past the line of scrimmage … Has a quick initial step to scoot past slower defenders and keeps his pads down in order to slip through tight areas … Has very good leadership qualities and no known off-field issues … Smart player with a good feel for blocking schemes and shows the vision to pick and slide through the rush lanes … Very creative on the move, but lacks the second gear to separate past the second level … Shows good urgency getting through the hole, but lacks that same burst when attacking the edge to cut upfield … Has the foot quickness and balance, along with good body lean, to fall forward for extra yardage … Picks up yards on the move due to his feel for the crease and vision to locate tacklers … Patient runner with the ability to lift his feet and drop his pads to pick and slide between the tackles … Might lack the strength to move the pile, but is a tough runner who won't go down without a fight (keeps his feet moving after initial contact) … Adequate in attempts to plant and cut upfield, but has the balance to bounce away from tacklers … Has a quick initial burst, but won't sustain it for long (more of a one-cut, one-speed runner) … Seems to protect the ball better when he has room to operate rather than in tight quarters … Better as a cut blocker than when working on the line, as he has a good concept for taking angles, staying in control while attacking the linebackers … Has enough hand punch to stall the pass rusher (but not for long).

Negatives: Has a compact frame, but lacks ideal muscle development … More of a one-cut runner who lacks flashy moves in attempts to elude (prefers to power through blocks, leading to his rash of injuries) … Tough athlete, but has had right knee, left knee, left hamstring and right shoulder problems (most come from his preference to gain tough yardage up the middle of the field) … Lacks elusiveness when getting into the second level … Does not show great change-of-direction agility or hip wiggle when trying to redirect to the cutback lane … Not really a powerful runner, but prefers that style, even though it is evident that he does not have the raw strength to move the pile … Not the type that can consistently run through or break tackles … Shows just a marginal burst when attempting to turn the corner (better running between the tackles) … Fumbling is not much of a problem, but will put the ball on the ground when defenders attack it (needs to do a better job of distributing the ball away from the defenders) … Marginal route runner with poor route-recognition ability … Not thrown the ball much and absorbs it into his body rather than extending for it … Willing blocker, but lacks the power or strength to explode behind his hits during initial contact … Defenders have good success slipping past his blocks at the line, as he tends to duck his head, overextend and leave his feet rather than anchor and show proper hand placement.

Compares To: MARCEL SHIPP-Arizona … Like Shipp, Choice is an effective downhill runner, but not a physical one who can consistently push the pile. He has good suddenness out of his stance and a good feel for the rush lanes, showing good patience following his blockers. He can pick and slide inside, but is more of a north-south runner with adequate change of direction and marginal hip wiggle to elude turning the corner. He is a liability as a receiver due to marginal hands, poor extension and limited experience or a good feel for running routes. Still, he manages to get good yardage up the middle, but his deficiencies are glaring enough to keep him out of the draft's first day.

2002: Dislocated his right shoulder in a November game during his high school senior year, but did not miss any contests.

2004: Sat out the first three games at Oklahoma vs. Bowling Green (9/04), Houston (9/11) and Oregon (9/18) after suffering a left hamstring pull during August camp.

2006: Played the final month of the season with a left knee meniscus tear, but played in all games.

2007: Missed the second half of the Boston College game (9/15) with a right hamstring pull that would require treatment throughout the season … Suffered a right knee sprain vs. Army (10/20), undergoing minor surgery three days later that would prevent him from playing vs. Virginia Tech (11/01) … Missed a portion of the Duke game in the first quarter when he re-injured his right hamstring, but returned to the game.

Campus: 4.62 in the 40-yard dash … 350-pound bench press … 330-pound power clean … 37 ½-inch vertical jump … 9'11" broad jump … 9 1/8-inch hands … Right-handed … 21/27 Wonderlic score.

Attended Lovejoy (Ga.) High School, playing football for head coach Al Hughes … Saw his jersey worn at the school be recently retired … First-team All-State pick and rated the 14th-best player in the state of Georgia by Super Prep … Ranked as the 22nd-best running back in the nation by Rivals.com … Rushed for 1,200 yards on 129 carries as a senior and also had 600 yards receiving while scoring 17 touchdowns.

Graduated in December 2007 with a degree in History, Technology and Society … 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 … Son of Rosa Hamm … Born 11/20/84 … Resides in Jonesboro, Georgia.