Georgia Tech’s Tashard Choice nominated for Broyles Award as top assistant

Georgia Tech running-backs coach Tashard Choice’s work has been recognized in a nomination for the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football. The list of 59 nominees was announced Monday.

Choice has developed the Yellow Jackets running backs since his hire in December 2018. He has cultivated the group into arguably the best and deepest in the ACC and one of the top running-back groups in the country. Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the premier all-around backs in the country, while Jordan Mason and Dontae Smith have been productive as backups and on special teams.

Choice, a former Jackets star, also has been an active recruiter, helping bring Gibbs, among others, to Tech. Another aspect of his role that Gibbs seems to have done well in is creating an atmosphere of selflessness within his position group, as players actively support one another and are comfortable sharing playing time even in a highly competitive environment.

“That’s honestly what it is,” Smith said in the spring. “I mean, we love each other and everything, but at the end of the day, we’re all fighting for reps.”

Offensive-line coach Brent Key was nominated for the award in 2020.

The award is named for Arkansas coaching great Frank Broyles, who was a Tech grad and three-sport athlete who played for William Alexander and Bobby Dodd. He served as an assistant coach to Dodd from 1951-56.