By Will Vandervort.

As the running backs coach, Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott has challenged himself to make sure his running backs are going to make an impact this year.

Last season, the Tigers did not have a 100-yard rusher in a game until Wayne Gallman went for 101 yards in a win against Syracuse on Oct. 25. Gallman went on to rush for 106 yards the following week at Wake Forest and then had 191 yards and two scores in Clemson’s victory over South Carolina in the regular-season finale.

Tyshon Dye will also return from injury against Georgia State and rushed for 124 yards in his first significant action of his career.

Elliott is hoping the late success of last year can carry over into 2015 and that this year his players will be making more of the big-splash plays than they did a year ago.

“I want them to be able to find those second-level runs,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be blocked perfectly to do it. You are starting to see those guys get a better feel and are being more disciplined with their eyes and they are being able to find the holes.

“In the past they were running in track and maybe were not quite as disciplined and it was a two-yard gain. Now, instead of two-yard gain, you are seeing four and five yards gains. It helps us offensively because we are staying ahead of the chains.”

Clemson did a good job running the football in Wednesday’s scrimmage. Gallman led all runners with 51 yards, while Zac Brooks rushed for 50 yards, including a 44-yard run. Dye had two rushing touchdowns in goal-line situations as well as caught two passes out of the backfield, while C.J. Fuller, again, looked impressive to the coaches.

“All of them are progressing,” Elliott said.

Gallman seems to be the one that is progressing the best right now. After having the best day in Clemson’s first scrimmage, which included a couple of 20-yard runs, Gallman again shined in the second one.

“Wayne is continuing to assert himself as the top guy in the room and everyone else is chasing him,” Elliott said. “That is a good thing for him because he has to continue to push each and every day because those guys are behind him.

“Zac, I thought he had one of his best days of the spring. You saw him make a couple of plays, which was good to see and having C.J. (Davidson) back in the fold, he is a little bit of a change of pace guy. You saw him break a couple of tackles and make a couple of plays. Overall, they are competing, but we still have some things we have to work on.”