© Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Texas football team got good news on the coaching front with running backs coach Tashard Choice reportedly returning to Austin. He’d previously received NFL interest from the Dallas Cowboys, alongside the Raiders and Saints.
Choice is spurning those NFL suitors in order to run it back with the Longhorns. In doing so, he’s expected to secure a big raise.
As a high school prospect, Choice actually signed with rival Oklahoma but moved on from the Sooners after his first college season. He landed at Georgia Tech, where he blossomed into a star.
The ball carrier twice led the ACC in rushing, racking up more than 2,800 yards across his last two seasons. He then took his talents to the NFL, where he suited up for the Cowboys, Commanders, Bills, and Colts.
After six years, he hung up the cleats. He got into coaching soon after.
Tashard Choice took over as running backs coach at Texas in 2021, the same year Steve Sarkisian was hired as head coach. The Longhorns backfield has thrived under his tutelage.
In his first year, Texas finished second in the Big 12 at 199.3 rushing yards per game. They’ve averaged more than 185 yards per contest in three of his four campaigns on the sidelines.
Last season, the team was led by 1,000-yard rusher Quintrevion Wisner. Jaydon Blue provided the bulk of the scoring with a team-high eight touchdowns. Each played a vital role in the Longhorns’ title pursuit, which ended one game before the national championship.
The school can expect the success to continue with Choice set to come back in 2025. He reportedly interviewed with the Cowboys, who are in the midst of a staff overhaul.
While both sides expressed some interest, the coach opted to spurn his former team and return to Austin. According to Clarence Hill Jr., a move to Dallas would’ve resulted in a pay cut for Choice.
“Tashard Choice is making too much at Texas to take a huge pay cut and is expected to get a raise out of this dance.”
-Clarence Hill Jr.
The organization has since hired Derrick Foster to fill the running backs coach void. Choice, meanwhile, leveraged his NFL interest into a pay bump with Texas. Hill provided an update on the situation earlier this week.
“After interviewing with the Cowboys, running backs coach Tashard Choice appears to be staying with the Longhorns with a big raise in excess of $800,000. He was also being courted by the Raiders and Saints.”
-Clarence Hill Jr.
The move makes sense for Choice. He returns to a stable position while getting paid even more for his services as opposed to joining the uncertainty surrounding Dallas. The Longhorns are expected to be back in the mix for a national title in 2025 with QB Arch Manning leading the offense.
The future appears bright in the UT backfield. Leading rusher, Wisner, is set to return as is former No. 1 running back recruit CJ Baxter. Choice should have plenty to work with when he rejoins the staff this year.