Biography

PRO: With injuries to both Marion Barber and Felix Jones during the 2008 season, Tashard Choice seamlessly stepped into the spotlight at running back during the second half of the year. In 2009, Choice is expected to team with both Barber and Jones to form one of the most feared rushing trios in the NFL. He 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 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). As he demonstrated last season, he not only will be called upon out of the backfield, but will also be featured as a valuable asset on special teams units.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
4/27/08: Drafted in the fourth round (122nd overall) by Dallas.

2008:

• Finished second on the team in rushing with 472 yards on 92 attempts (5.1 avg.) and two touchdowns while playing in all 16 games with three starts.
• Was also fifth on the team in receiving with 21 receptions for 185 yards.
• Made his NFL debut at Cleveland (9/7) to the tune of 26 yards on five carries along with one reception for two yards.
• At Arizona (10/12) recovered a fumble on a kickoff that led to a field goal attempt and recovered a surprise on-side kick attempt by the Cardinals.
• Filled in for an injured Barber (toe) during the second half against Seattle (11/27) and collected 57 yards on 11 rushing attempts.
• At Pittsburgh (12/7) made his first NFL start in place of Barber (toe) and led the team with 88 rushing yards on 23 carries. He also led the team with 78 receiving yards on five receptions, including a career-long 50-yard catch in a game that he accumulated 166 of the team’s 289 total net yards.
• Did not start against N.Y. Giants (12/14) but still finished with a season-high 91 yards on nine carries while Barber remained limited. Also scored his first career touchdown on a season-long rush of 38 yards while adding 52 receiving yards on four receptions.
• Earned his second career start in the final game at Texas Stadium against Baltimore (12/20) and led the team with 17 rushes for 90 yards and one touchdown while also recording a season-high seven receptions for 25 yards.
• Started the season finale at Philadelphia (12/28) and finished with a team-high 13 carries for 56 yards.

COLLEGE:

• Compiled 3,456 yards on 697 carries with 28 touchdowns and 41 receptions for 288 yards during his collegiate career at Oklahoma (2004) and Georgia Tech (2005-07).
• 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 during his senior season with the Yellow Jackets.
• Became the first player to lead the conference in rushing in consecutive seasons since Virginia’s Jones (1998 and 1999).
• 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 during his senior season.
• Opened his final campaign against Notre Dame with a then game-best 196 rushing yards, only to top it against Miami with 204.
• As a junior, led the conference and ranked 13th in the nation with 1,473 rushing yards – the second-best single-season total in school history – while scoring 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 while starting all 14 games in his first season as Tech’s starting tailback during his junior year.
• Was Georgia Tech’s second-leading rusher in his first season with the school as a sophomore, finishing with 513 yards while tying for the team lead with six touchdowns as a reserve running back. He also added 14 catches for 76 yards.
• Spent his redshirt freshman season as a backup behind Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma, yet still managed 22 carries for 100 yards.

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 Georgia 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.

COMMUNITY:

• 2008 Rookie Club.
• 2009 Cowboys NFL Draft Day and Fan Appreciation Party.
• Annual Holiday Hospital Visits.
• Salvation Army Angel Tree Program.
• Kickoff Luncheon and Dallas Cowboys Family Cookbook benefitting Happy Hill Farm.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas.