The New York Giants believe former Clemson running back Wayne Gallman can be that missing piece to help them get over the hump and get back to the Super Bowl.

They already have the franchise quarterback in Eli Manning, who has led them to two Super Bowl titles already. They have one of the most explosive and dynamic players in the league in wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. They then added Brandon Marshall, Rhett Ellison and D.J. Fluker in free agency. They also picked up former Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram in the last month’s draft.

After finishing near the bottom in the NFL in rushing last year, they then drafted Gallman in the fourth round, hoping his downhill running and his physical style of play can help them in short yardage and near the goal line. Gallman rushed for more than 2,700 yards the last two years for Clemson, while scoring 30 touchdowns.

“To bring that championship quality. I believe that I can help them win championships,” Gallman said on Giantswire.com. “The Super Bowl, of course. When they tell me that, that makes me want to put that much more work in, whether it’s learning the playbook or just getting back on the field.”

For all the work Gallman did as a running back at Clemson, perhaps his biggest attribute and the one that seems to go unnoticed was his ability to block in passing situations. The Giants’ rookie was not afraid to hit someone or to be hit whether it was on a defensive end coming off the edge or a blitzing linebacker or defensive back.

Perhaps Gallman is that way because he was also recruited coming out of high school as a linebacker, where he was an all-state performer at Grayson High School. So hitting someone is in his DNA and it’s the part of his personality the Giants really liked.

“I’m going to do my best,” Gallman said. “I’ve been working on it in my time off. I know that’s a big emphasis in the NFL. I work on it.”

–Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports