Ohio State football experiences further staff changes this offseason as running backs coach Tony Alford departs from Columbus after nine seasons. Alford’s move to rival Michigan as their running backs coach and run game coordinator for the 2024 season was announced on Wednesday. During a segment on the Football Recruiting Podcast, 247Sports national recruiting analyst suggested Texas’ Tashard Choice as a potential replacement.
Expressing his thoughts, Petagna stated, “My first call would be Tashard Choice at Texas. I think it would be very difficult to lure Tashard Choice away from Austin. However, considering it’s Ohio State, and their impressive history with running backs, I believe everyone would consider the opportunity. Ohio State’s track record, combined with their recruiting prowess, makes them an enticing option for any coach.”
Alford, the second-longest tenured assistant on the Ohio State staff, leaves a gap that head coach Ryan Day must now fill. Alford had joined the Buckeyes in 2015 under Urban Meyer’s leadership. Meanwhile, Choice, who spent the past two years as the running backs coach for Texas, has showcased his proficiency in developing top talent at the position.
“I believe he’s the standout among current running backs coaches, especially considering the caliber of recruits Texas has attracted recently,” noted 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins. “Choice has successfully recruited talents like Jahmyr Gibbs and Cedric Baxter, demonstrating his effectiveness in player development.”
Choice’s own football career adds weight to his coaching credentials. Playing for Georgia Tech and Oklahoma in college, he amassed 3,465 yards and 28 touchdowns on 697 career attempts. Selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Choice enjoyed a nine-season NFL career, contributing 1,579 yards and 10 touchdowns on 372 carries across 88 games.
