By Ed McGranahan.

Bill Shaver saw firsthand how Adam Choice might be a good fit in a wildcat formation for Clemson.

A three-year starter at quarterback for Shaver’s teams at Thomas County (Ga.) Central, Choice broke the school rushing record set by his uncle, tailback Joe Burns. First time he touched the ball as a sophomore in Shaver’s veer scheme, Choice ran 65 yards for a touchdown.

“We did a lot of our option stuff out of the shotgun, so it would definitely be something Adam could do,” Shaver said. “I think it’s something that would be very beneficial.”

Actually, Shaver added, “He might be more comfortable with that right now than he is at running back because he played quarterback so long.”

With Clemson continuing to mine its potential in the run, Choice positioned himself for more work during the second half of his freshman season. The injury to quarterback Deshaun Watson required Clemson to explore all options including a package that offensive coordinator Chad Morris used occasionally back to his time as a Texas high school coach.

Morris had not added the wildcat to the Clemson menu this season presumably because of Watson’s proficiency as a high school runner but after Choice ran for 61 yards on eight carries last week, most of it with the game on the line against the nation’s top-ranked run defense, he said he would welcome the opportunity to take a snap again.

“Adam was a natural runner. He never really considered himself a quarterback,” said his father, Clement Choice, pastor at St. Thomas AME in Thomasville. “He was thrust into the quarterback role,” said mother, Pat Choice, human resources director for a manufacturer in Thomasville. “Running back was what he’s always wanted to play.”

Georgia Tech thought his quarterback skill might be valuable in Atlanta, which was intriguing largely because a cousin, Tashard Choice, and Burns had brilliant careers as Yellow Jackets running backs, but Adam Choice became a quarterback in the sixth grade and his middle school teams were undefeated for three years. Shaver recalled the buzz around town led to abnormally large crowds at middle school games.

As a freshman at Central he backed up the returning starter, senior Eric Hodson. Shaver used him some at receiver “just to get the ball in his hands.” The next three years it was all Choice – until the 10th game his senior year.

Shaver’s version of the split-back veer mirrors what Herman Boone ran at T.C. Williams in Alexandria, Va. “It’s like Novocain. Give it time, it’ll work,” Shaver said. “We can tweak it how we want, but in Adam’s three years it was quarterback run heavy.” Choice totaled 5,095 yards over three seasons. Central’s quarterbacks this season haven’t run for 100.

Choice had nearly 270 through three quarters in a game with Harris County for the region championship his final season when he tore the labrum in his right shoulder. “That kind of sunk our chances,” Shaver said. “They had to put him to sleep to repair his shoulder so he was clearly in pain, but there he was in the fourth quarter obviously in pain coaching up his replacement.”

Choice was promised by Clemson a chance to compete immediately, but there wasn’t any urgency to push his development with three experienced backs plus redshirt freshmen Wayne Gallman and Tyshon Dye on the roster. Mostly, his father said, Choice was eager to get on with his life, and the recruiting process was not appealing. “He wanted to pull himself out of that arena as quick as he could,” Clement Choice said. “It was disrupting, interrupting at times and I could tell he was getting weary at the end.”

When Dye tore an Achilles tendon during winter conditioning, Choice was added to the depth chart as the fifth back though still with the hope he could be held for a year. After junior Zac Brooks sustained a foot injury during August practice, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Choice would not redshirt.

Running backs usually make the easiest transition from high school though there’s more responsibility, more to learn and everybody is fast. “Pass protection is a new thing for him because he was throwing the ball for us,” Shaver said. A disciplined high school scholar who tutored elementary school kids before class his senior year Choice has the reputation for being a perfectionist. “He doesn’t want to make a mistake,” Pat Choice said. “When he does make a mistake he beats himself up really bad.”

His father conceded, “Having to learn a new position has been a challenge.”

Senior D.J. Howard did not play last week indicating that, for now, Choice, Gallman and junior C.J. Davidson are the principle horses. Each has a different style but Swinney believes Choice may be the most gifted, the purest running back with a “violent” style.

In the fourth quarter with the game in doubt against a Louisville defense yielding barely two yards per rush, he averaged five. “As a matter of fact I felt personally he turned the curve there,” Clement Choice said. “I saw the confidence level increase. He was having fun. He didn’t have that deer in the headlights look. He looked like actually knew what he was doing and looked comfortable doing it.”

Usually borne of necessity by teams with quarterbacks who aren’t proficient runners, the wildcat has become a staple for many college and high school programs and a few in the NFL. Not that the others couldn’t handle the wildcat but Gallman has tended to be impatient following his blockers, and Davidson hasn’t Choice’s experience taking snaps and reading keys.

Football talent grows as prolifically as peanuts in South Georgia. Shaver wouldn’t be surprised if Choice’s career follows a path similar to former Central High players William Andrews (Auburn/Falcons) and Guy McIntyre (Georgia/49ers) or his uncle and cousin. At quarterback Choice might only be second to Charlie Ward, who chose pro basketball over the NFL after winning the Heisman Trophy, and Shaver believes Choice was the better runner. Ironically, his arm might set him apart in the wildcat.

“I don’t know how much he’s thrown since hurting his shoulder, but I would think it’s something he could add,” Shaver said, remembering a kid who was the best at everything in high school from athletics to academics.

“Not surprised by anything he does because of the way he’ll work, the teammate he’ll be and the way he’ll treat his coaches. The way he’ll go about his business the right way.”

Thus far Choice seems to have been a good fit for Clemson.