Who is Adam Choice?

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Sat Aug 23 09:42:09 GMT-04:00 2014

CLEMSON – The injury to Zac Brooks Zac Brooks
Jr. Running Back
#24 6-1, 199
Jonesboro, AR
View Full Profile earlier this week means that freshman running back Adam Choice Adam Choice
Fr. Running Back
#26 5-10, 211
Thomasville, GA
View Full Profile will avoid a redshirt and play this season, giving Clemson fans an early look at one of the top recruits in the 2014 recruiting cycle.

So, who is Adam Choice, and why should Clemson fans be excited about the chance to see him play this season? Choice is the cousin of former Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice and the nephew of former Yellow Jacket running back Joe Burns. Despite the family connections, however, the seventh-ranked player in the state of Georgia (Rivals) chose the Tigers.

Running backs coach Tony ElliottTony Elliott
Assistant Coach / Running Backs
View Full Profile told TigerNet last month that he told Choice to be ready to come in and compete for a starting spot.

“You tell Adam Choice, 'you go compete for the job.' I tell guys in recruiting, never be scared of who's on the roster,” Elliott said. “It's your job to beat those guys out. From what I've seen of him, he's got the complete package. He's already 208-210 pounds. He's the guy who can run between the tackles and extend it for the home run. How quickly can he pick it up?"

Choice is close to 210 pounds, and could be the type of powerful back that offensive coordinator Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
View Full Profile has been looking for. He rushed for 1,595 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and had 1,650 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior. During his high school career – much of it as an option quarterback – he had 5,091 total yards.

Elliott said that Choice is a complete back.

“From what you see on tape, and what I hear from the other running backs that saw him over the summer, he is that combination of size, power and speed that you may not have in one guy,” Elliott said. “He is a combination of all our guys, and he catches the ball really well. He could be the one complete guy we’ve been looking for.”

Head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile said that Choice is a natural runner.

“Adam will play. He will play. We have to get him ready, and we will give the green light on him,” Swinney said. “We only have three backs - so you are sitting there with C.J. and D.J. and Gallman who we really like, but it's hard to make it through the season with three backs. And Tyshon (Dye), we hope to get him back at some point. But when he does come back he will really have to get himself going. But Choice has had a great camp. He is probably one of the most natural runners and one of the best we have signed here in a long time. He runs low to the ground. He is physically ready - still mentally have to grow him up some, but because of the situation we now have we will grow him up some and get him plenty of reps and get him ready to go.”

ADAM CHOICE BIO

*Top-125 player and No. 10 running back in the nation and No. 7 player in Georgia by Rivals.com ... option quarterback at Thomas County Central High School who started for three years and finished as the school’s all-time leading rusher (5,095) ... second-team All-State as a junior ... had a region-high 1,521 yards and 14 touchdowns on 191 carries in 10 games as a senior; had at least 100 yards in every game but one and had two 200-yard games ... was 31-57 passing for 522 yards and seven touchdowns against only one interception as a senior ... had a season-high 258 rushing yards in just three quarters against Harris County High School as a senior ... first-team all-state as a junior ... had 1,658 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns along with 600 passing yards and five touchdowns as a junior ... had 1,622 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore ... had a career-high 314 rushing yards against Lee County High School as a sophomore ... outstanding baseball player who made the national finals of the MLB Pitch, Hit & Throw Competition at Yankee Stadium in 2008; just 12 years old at the time, he fielded flyballs during the Home Run hitting competition at the All-Star Game ... coached by Bill Shaver at Thomas County Central High School ... recruited by Danny PearmanDanny Pearman
Assistant Head Coach / Tight Ends
View Full Profile .