Tashard Choice was in Norman, Okla., but he might as well have been on Mars.

The distress of an injured mother who was coping with three sons being incarcerated pulled him back home fresh off his former school's appearance in the BCS championship game.

"In the beginning I wasn't sure about him transferring, coming back because I didn't want him to sacrifice himself for me," said Rosa Hamm, Choice's mom. "But in the end it all worked out well."

Choice put in for his transfer from Oklahoma to Georgia Tech, and the NCAA granted his request for immediate eligibility.

"It's been tough," Choice said after working out earlier last week as he awaits the NFL draft on April 26-27. "My older brother was in trouble, and then my two younger brothers were in and out of trouble."

Choice's mother and stepfather, Barry Hamm, couldn't let the youngest go down the same path.

"My mom and my stepdad wanted to really make sure that I stayed on task," Choice said. "Because I knew they were going through some things.

"I just wanted to make sure that I was doing the right thing. So I wanted to come home and help them out. There was a little bit more to it why I came back home."

Choice redshirted in 2003 and played behind Adrian Peterson in 2004. Peterson went on to star for the Sooners and made the Pro Bowl last season as an NFL rookie.

Choice sat behind P.J. Daniels for a season at Tech before taking the job over full time in 2006. He rushed for more than 2,800 yards over the past two seasons, and his play helped heal the family. His brothers are all out of jail and piecing their lives together.

"Everybody is doing really well," Choice said. "Everything has turned out for the better and they are trying to get themselves together."

Flagged for toughness

It's been a long journey for Choice, too. He started playing football at age 4 in a flag football league.

The only problem was that his brothers taught him how to tackle. Instead of pulling out the flags, Choice would terrorize the other players with bone-rattling tackles.

"So every other play he was out of the game," said Hamm, who broke her front running down the stairs to see Choice on television when he was playing for the Sooners. "He would come to the side and I would say, 'Tashard, you have to pull the flag.'?"

Just about every team in the NFL had questions about his departure from Oklahoma. Some wondered if he was escaping Peterson's immense shadow or if he was looking for more playing time.

"It wasn't that at all," Choice said. "I just had to get back closer to home."

NFL scouts impressed

The way Choice handled himself during interviews at the Senior Bowl and NFL scouting combine won him supporters among coaches.

San Diego running backs coach Ollie Wilson couldn't stop smiling when talking about Choice.

"He's a great kid," Wilson said. Wilson was formerly with the Falcons and got to watch several of Choice's games.

Cincinnati running backs coach Jim Anderson also fell in love with Choice, even though his team isn't seeking a running back in this draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs, where former Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey landed as offensive coordinator along with Choice's running back coach Curtis Modkins, are looking for help at running back.

Choice just wants an opportunity, but he wouldn't mind reuniting with Gailey and Modkins.

"I think it's just running the football, and I think I do that as well as any other running back in the draft," Choice said. "It's just a matter of do they think I'm going to help their football team."

Choice is projected to be selected in the third or fourth round. "I have him rated as the seventh-best running back in the draft," said Mike Mayock, the NFL Network's draft analyst. "That should put him somewhere early in the third round."

At 5 feet 10 1/2, 215 pounds, Choice is smaller than most NFL running backs. "He understands the game," Mayock said. "He's going to be a good, solid NFL player. In a couple of years he could be starting for somebody."

After running the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds at the combine, some teams question Choice's speed.

"He's quicker than he is fast, but he's tough as nails," Mayock said.

In retrospect, Choice would not have done anything differently.

"Football brings my whole family together," Choice said. "I have a lot of uncles, aunts and cousins in the area, and everybody would watch the games and come by the house. It really would bring people together on the weekends."

The family plans a low-key gathering for draft day, and someone must keep Rosa Hamm away from the stairs, in case she gets excited and tries to run down them when Choice is selected.