Tashard Choice credited by Steve Sarkisian for stocking the Texas RB room
No CJ Baxter in 2024 is a problem Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice did yeoman’s work to find a solution for since his hire following the 2021 season.
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Choice, who Steve Sarkisian grabbed in from USC after the former NFL back left Georgia Tech following the 2021 campaign, not only worked to develop Jaydon Blue but also brought in rushers like Tre Wisner, Christian Clark, and Jerrick Gibson and got them up to speed. Blue being on the roster was mainly attributable to Stan Drayton before he left for Temple. But what Blue has become can be credited to Choice.
So too can Wisner, Clark, and Gibson’s presence in that position group and their development during their time on the 40 Acres. That’s a unit that is not only close-knit but also high-quality based on the type of back that has been utilized often during Sark’s time in Austin.
Choice’s efforts in creating one of the top running back rooms in the nation in Austin was given due praise by Sarkisian on Thursday ahead of a string of practices culminating in a scrimmage on Campbell-Williams Field this Saturday where all Choice’s charges will be put to the test.
“I think Coach Choice does a great job in his room,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “They’re one heartbeat in that room. It’s not individuals. It’s one room. There’s a standard which he sets and we set for how our running backs play in our offense and on our team.”
There are running backs with different types of talent in that room. Blue, home-run ability and all, is likely to take over as RB1. Following him is Wisner, who has no issue playing a versatile role. On Thursday, Sarkisian mentioned there’s also a lot of confidence in the abilities of Clark and Gibson, two true freshman who have flashed during the first week of practice.
Sark has often said he operates a run-first offense. That mentality means the running backs operate in a special place for the Longhorn football program.
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“As you guys know now, going into year four, the running back is an integral part of what we do,” Sarkisian said. “They possess kind of the heart beat of our team, the running style, and our ability to be really versatile.”
Much of that is attributable to Choice’s coaching efforts. The former Cowboy, Redskin, Bill, and Colt has made quality running back play his passion, and that is seen up and down the depth chart. When Texas needed contributions from players on the third- and fourth-string during the 2023 season, backs like Blue and even Wisner gave strong late season scoring contributions to the Horns as they made their way to the College Football Playoff.
Choice will need to do something similar ahead of 2024, and Sarkisian expressed on Thursday he believes that the highly-regarded UT running backs coach will be able to get it done based on how Choice leads his pupils.
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“It’s a hungry room,” Sarkisian said. “I think Coach Choice does a great job of motivating those guys yet holding them accountable to the standard for which you want guys to play.”
