Wayne Gallman is taking his opportunity and running with it.

Literally.

With 53 carries for 310 yards with three touchdowns through three games this season, he’s on track to bypass last season’s numbers: 161 carries for 769 yards and four touchdowns.

Not bad for a guy who was no higher than third on the running back depth chart before the start of preseason camp in 2014. Injuries to Zac Brooks and Adam Choice would eventually provide him with an extended opportunity to take over as the lead back.

Against N.C. State, Gallman made his first start, totaling 58 yards on 13 carries. After Choice tore suffered a torn ACL two weeks later, Gallman resumed the No. 1 running back duties.

Gallman rushed for 571 yards and three touchdowns on 113 carries over the final six games of the season and topped the 100-yard mark against Syracuse, Wake Forest and South Carolina.

The redshirt sophomore from Loganville, Ga. has started in big games: Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Louisville. Notre Dame, like the rest of them, is viewed at as just another notch on his belt.

Though he mostly gave the company line for most of his answers about the hype surrounding Saturday night, Gallman did acknowledge that he’s looking forward to playing at home in the GameDay game.

Gallman was around in 2013 when Georgia came to town with the ESPN spotlight, but never stepped on the field, before going on to redshirt.

“It was crazy,” he said, “And actually getting to play and start in a game like this, it’s pretty big for anybody. I’ll be glad to enjoy it.”

As Gallman spent last Saturday watching football, he grew envious.

“Last week, watching the game during the bye week, seeing everybody play on that national stage, all I was thinking about was this Notre Dame game,” he said. “It is a big opportunity, but not for just me, but for the whole team, to finally get the respect that we deserve.”