Choice Goals: Running back set for big season

Choice looked better than ever at practice this spring

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Fri May 06 08:09:11 GMT-04:00 2016

CLEMSON – Clemson’s coaching staff declined to name a pecking order behind starter Wayne Gallman at running back at the end of the spring, but Adam Choice did more than enough to be considered for the spot.

Choice had a great spring because he sets goals.

The 5-9, 215-pound Thomasville (GA) native burst onto the scene in 2014 when he had 218 yards and one touchdown on 50 carries along with nine receptions for 90 yards in 130 snaps over six games. Then came Boston College – he had 13 yards on four carries at the Eagles’ Alumni Stadium on October 18th before suffering a torn ACL that ended his season.

The general consensus was that he would be ready for the 2015 season, but he suffered a minor setback in fall camp and because the Tigers had options with Gallman, freshman C.J. Fuller and veterans Zac Brooks and C.J. Davidson, Choice took a medical redshirt.

This year – now 19 months removed from the injury – Choice is feeling better than ever and setting goals for each day to make himself a better player.

“I make a goal for every day. Some days it's working on cuts and some days it's ball security and stuff like that,” Choice told TigerNet recently. “It's trying to get better each and every day and find something to improve on. Pass protection is something I'm always trying to work on and me and Coach Elliot have been working on ball security - making sure I'm keeping my elbows high and tight and keeping the ball tucked. “

Choice said that while he would be pleased to be number two on the depth chart, he isn’t backing down from the challenge of competing for Gallman’s spot.

“Everybody wants to be the top dog, so I mean, you do go out there with that mindset that you want to be the starter,” he said. “It kind of helps everybody out because it pushes Wayne (Gallman) and pushes everybody. My dad tells me, ‘Never take a backseat to anyone,’ so I'm going out there and trying to win a job. “

He admitted that Gallman had the type of season most running backs dream about, but also said that it pushes him to be a better back.

“Wayne had a great year last year. Seeing him have success was great for all of us because it let us know that, that could be any of us,” Choice said. “It let us know that all we have to do is put our mind to it and get to work like he has and we can all be successful like that. We are better as a group - we are all riding his success. It makes us happy watching him succeed and we're all trying to get a part of that too.”

The competition at running back won’t cause a problem, however, and it all goes back to those goals.

“I feel like we are on our way. We all have a great chemistry and we all get along well,” he said. “Whatever goals are set ahead of us, we're all working together just to try and get where we want to be.”