Jonathan Dwyer, RB

Some imagined that even with Paul Johnson's vaunted triple-option offense, the Yellow Jackets might struggle to replace star runner Tashard Choice's 1,379 rushing yards in 2007. Dwyer, a true freshman at the time, had been impressive, averaging an identical 5.3 yards to Choice and finishing with nine touchdowns to the future Dallas Cowboys' 10 for the year. But few expected the youngster would emerge in 2008 with the type of toughness and consistency that Choice had brought to Georgia Tech.

Rather than match Choice's production, Dwyer exceeded it, rushing for 1,395 yards to lead the ACC and earning 2008 ACC Player of the Year honors. Talk about consistency? Dwyer rushed for an identical 1,395 yards in 2009, but lost out to Clemson's C.J. Spiller for conference MVP honors.

Nicknamed "Diesel," a suitable enough moniker considering his bull-in-a-china-shop running style, Dwyer's bulk, strength and surprising elusiveness made mincemeat of the ACC. Teams will have to judge whether his production was enhanced by Johnson's unique offense, but considering the effectiveness Dwyer showed as a true freshman in former coach Chan Gailey's pro-style offense, their questions might be answered in the film room. On the other hand, his relatively slow 4.64 40 and poor receiving hands in Combine drills may have all those scouts needed to see to downgrade him to a top 75 grade.

Inside: Powerful, thick-framed runner at his best slugging it out in the trenches. One-cut runner who attacks the line of scrimmage, gets skinny through the hole and can gain yardage in chunks once he breaks through. Good vision for the cutback. Surprising lateral agility to elude and has a burst to break it outside.

Outside: At least adequate speed to beat the linebacker to the corner, though he's helped by this scheme by often getting the ball with room to run. Deceptively fast and elusive. Shiftier than his frame would indicate and can cut to either side while running at full speed.

Breaking tackles: Arguably his greatest skill-set. Possesses a naturally stout, strong frame, especially in his lower body. Runs with good forward lean, making himself even more powerful and keeping his legs churning in the pile. Runs hard. Consistently finishes runs by falling forward for the tough yards. Best asset might be his toughness, as he delivers the blow and will simply drive over some defenders. Flashes a wicked stiff-arm which he uses to not only shield would-be tacklers from his legs, but to aggressively shove them aside.

Blocking: Good size, strength and toughness as a pass blocker. Squares to the defender and delivers a good initial blow. Has to continue to improve in his sustain, but has the frame and work ethic to hold up well in the NFL.

Receiving: An underrated component to his game, though he only has 15 career receptions. Possesses soft hands out of the backfield. Typically used on only short dump-off routes, but is occasionally slipped out of the backfield for wheel routes and shows impressive body control in going up to make the tough, contested reception.

Intangibles: Has never missed a game due to injury despite his punishing style of running. Announced his decision to leave Georgia Tech early alongside teammates Derrick Morgan and Morgan Burnett.

Dwyer will leave his name etched throughout the Georgia Tech record books. He concludes his three-year career with 3,226 rushing yards (6th in Tech history), 517 rushing attempts (8th), 17 100-yard rushing games (3rd), 3,966 all-purpose yards (5th), 35 rushing touchdowns (2nd) and 36 touchdowns overall (2nd). Dwyer rushed for an identical 1,395 yards in 2008 and 2009.

Emerged as one of the nation's top running backs as a sophomore … First Team All-ACC and the ACC Player of the Year -- just the third Yellow Jacket to earn the honor, joining Calvin Johnson and Joe Hamilton -- and a unanimous selection for the All-ACC team … led the ACC and ranked 17th nationally in rushing (107.3 ypg) overall and in league games only (113.0 ypg) … gives Tech the ACCrushing champion for the third straight year … the only player in the ACCto average more than 100 yards rushing … rushed for 1,395 yards this season -- the 4th-most single-season yards in Georgia Tech history … his rushing average (107.3) was the seventh-best in school history … rushed for 100 yards in a game nine times, tying the school record … his 1,831 career rushing yards ranks 10th in Tech history … Clemson's C.J. Spiller is the only returning player in the ACCwith more career yards … has 10 career 100-yard rushing games … rushed for 100 yards in each of the final four games of the regular season … his 1,775 all-purpose yards in 2008 were the second-most in Tech history … has 21 career rushing touchdowns (22 touchdowns total) … had eight pass receptions for 209 yards … was also used at times as a kick returner … had a career-high three receptions for 66 yards to go with 67 yards rushing vs. LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31) … had 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts at Georgia (Nov. 29) … his 60-yard TD run on the first play of the second half at Georgia ignited a 26-point third quarter for the Jackets … rushed 10 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns (TD runs of 58 and six yards) vs. No. 23 Miami (Nov. 20) … that performance earned him ACC co-Offensive Back of the Week … didn't play the second half of the Miami game because of a bruised knee … rushed 22 times for 157 yards and one touchdown at 19th-ranked North Carolina (Nov. 8) … had an 85-yard run for a touchdown -- the fourth-longest run in school history -- against the Tar Heels … erupted for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries vs. Florida State (Nov. 1) … had touchdown runs of 36 and 66 yards vs. the Seminoles … broke loose for 109 yards on 21 carries and had three kickoff returns in a key road win at Clemson (Oct. 18) … had Tech's only touchdown on a 79-yard pass from Calvin Booker vs. Gardner-Webb (Oct. 11) … the 79-yard pass was the 12th-longest pass play in Tech history … rushed for a career-high 159 yards on 23 carries (6.9 yards per attempt) vs. Duke (Oct. 4) … rushed for 141 yards and one touchdown on nine carries vs. Mississippi State (Sept. 20) … his 88-yard touchdown run against the Bulldogs was the longest run from scrimmage in Georgia Tech history … rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries at Boston College (Sept. 6) … his 43-yard touchdown scamper mid-way through the fourth quarter proved to be the winning margin against the Eagles … also returned three kickoffs for 97 yards including a career-long of 52 yards … rushed for 112 yards on just 11 carries (10.2 ypa) in the season opener vs. Jacksonville State (Aug. 28) … rushed for two touchdowns against the Gamecocks … a gifted ball carrier who emerged as the back-up to Tashard Choice at running back in 2007 as a true freshman … a bulky, strong runner with deceptive speed.

2007 ACC All-Freshman Team (Sporting News). Played in all 13 games … Tech's second-leading rusher as a true freshman … averaged 5.3 yards per carry … ranked second on the team with nine touchdowns -- all by rushing … ranked third on the team in scoring (54 points) … averaged one touchdown every 9.1 carries … caught two passes on the season for 17 yards … averaged 21.9 yards on 14 kickoff returns and ranked among the ACC leaders for much of the season … scored a touchdown in his first career game -- in South Bend against Notre Dame no less -- and rushed for 27 yards in the season opener … erupted for 138 yards rushing and three touchdowns on just nine carries vs. Samford (Sept. 8) … also had first career kick return that went for 32 yards … Tashard Choice also rushed for 100 yards vs. Samford giving Tech two 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time since 2003 … Dwyer's 138 yards were the fifth-most by a freshman in Yellow Jacket history … scored his fifth career TD in just his third game and also caught one pass for nine yards vs. Boston College (Sept. 15) … had three kickoff returns for 81 yards against the nationally-ranked Eagles … replaced an ailing Tashard Choice midway through the Virginia game (Sept. 22), rushed 15 times for 75 yards and one TD … had two kickoff returns for 50 yards against the Cavaliers … scored six touchdowns in his first four career games … had two kickoff returns for 51 yards in the Orange Bowl vs. Miami (Oct. 13) … rushed for his seventh touchdown vs. Army (Oct. 20) … saw considerable action on national television vs. Virginia Tech (Nov. 1) rushing 10 times for 68 yards … had 12 carries for 62 yards and two touchdowns in the Humanitarian Bowl against Fresno State.

One of the nation's top running backs . . . Parade All-America, one of just two selected from the state of Georgia . . . Rated among the top prospects in Georgia in every ranking, including No. 5 by Scout.com and No. 8 by Rivals . . . Tabbed to the Scout.com national Hot 100, the PrepStar 100 and the Rivals 250 . . . Ranked No. 10 nationally among running backs by Rivals and No. 14 by SuperPrep . . . Super Southern 100 pick by the Atlanta Journal Consitution and Top 50 in Georgia honoree by the Macon Telegraph . . . Also tabbed to the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 and the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team . . . First-team all-state selection and the Class AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year by the AJC . . . Honorable mention all-state selection as a junior . . . Rushed for 1,802 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior, when he had five games with over 200 yards, including a career-best 307 versus Centennial . . . Also had 23 receptions for 220 yards and three touchdowns . . . Scored a total of 25 touchdowns including a 99-yard kickoff return for a score . . . Added 1,863 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns as a junior, when he also had 22 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns . . . Set Cobb County records with 5,565 career rushing yards and 71 touchdowns scored . . . Finished second in the state in the Class AAAAA 100 meters as a junior . . . Coached by Irvin Sigler at Kell High.

Full name is Jonathan Avery Dwyer … Parents are Tony and Keely Dwyer … Born July 26, 1989 … Majoring in management.