ATLANTA (AP) -If Tashard Choice’s hamstring injury keeps him out of Saturday’s game at Virginia, Chan Gailey has several options to replace his star running back.
“We’ve got four tailbacks that can play, so when you have injuries, you’re fortunate to have that,” Gailey said Tuesday.
Choice, the ACC’s leading rusher last season, said he has a strained hamstring and he’s day-to-day.
“I won’t go on the field to practice or play if I feel I can’t give 100 percent,” said Choice, whose streak of nine straight 100-yard games was snapped against Boston College last week. “We have a lot of guys who can do the job at running back. It’s a long season. You’re going to need everybody.”
Georgia Tech has three backup tailbacks and each could make a legitimate claim to being the logical choice to fill in for Choice:
-Freshman Jonathan Dwyer is second on the team with 23 carries for 181 yards rushing, and he leads the team with five touchdowns – one more than Choice.
-Senior Rashaun Grant is listed as Choice’s top backup, though a hamstring injury kept him out the first two games. Grant returned to rush for 23 yards against Boston College.
-Sophomore Jamaal Evans is small (5-foot-8, 196 pounds) but quick. He has 16 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown and is dangerous as a return specialist. He began the season as Choice’s top backup.
“I think it would be running back by committee, and I’m not ready to say who would take the first snap,” Gailey said about replacing Choice.
Guard Nate McManus said Georgia Tech’s running game should not suffer if Choice can’t play.
“I don’t believe so,” McManus said. “Jonathan Dwyer has proved himself more than once over at this point. He is an incredible running back. Rashaun Grant. Jamaal Evans. It’s not going to be the end of the world.”
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