When the 2014 season came to an end, Wayne Gallman emerged as Clemson’s go-to running back down the stretch. In three of the last six games that year, he eclipsed the century mark three times in the final six games, including a career-high 191 yards against South Carolina.
His 571 yards and three touchdowns in the final six games gave Gallman the edge coming into spring practice. By the end of the spring he had taken full ownership of the No. 1 spot and by the end of fall camp he clearly separated himself from the rest of the competition.
Gallman’s hunger and drive did not end there. He opened the 2015 season with even more drive and termination. Left guard Eric Mac Lain described Gallman’s running style as angry, while quarterback Deshaun Watson said he played with a chip on his shoulder the entire season.
That drive and determination from Gallman, who decided last week he was returning to Clemson for one more season, comes from his days as a high school player back at Grayson High School. During his junior season, he helped Grayson to a State Championship, but it did not come easy.
In the first half of the state semifinal game versus Class AAAAA power Colquitt County, he hyperextended his knee on the opening kickoff. After receiving a shot to help with the pain, he played the rest of the game and made several key plays in leading Grayson to the victory.
In the state championship game the following week, he played through the pain, again.
“He is the ultimate competitor,” Clemson co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Tony Elliott said. “The bigger the stage the more competitive he becomes. We are talking about championship football and the opportunity he has to make a statement and he just goes out and does it.
“He has the growth, the maturity and understands the situation. He knows he has to be ready to play in any situation and that’s what I’m the most proud of.”
This year Gallman used his angry running to lead a Clemson running game that averaged 223.0 yards per game – the highest per game average since 1995. Gallman himself rushed for a single-season record 1,527 yards, while averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
The rising redshirt junior also scored 13 touchdowns and had a school-record nine 100-yard rushing games. Those 100 yards games came in some of the Tigers’ biggest wins of the season, too. He rushed for 139 at Louisville, 111 vs. Notre Dame, 115 against Georgia Tech, 118 at Miami, 172 at NC State, 103 vs. Florida State and 102 against the Gamecocks.
Like Elliott said, his biggest performances came on the biggest stages. In the ACC Championship Game he tallied a season-high 187 yards and a touchdown, including 170 in the second half. In the Tigers Orange Bowl victory over Oklahoma, he again had a big second half, rushing for 111 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the final 30 minutes. He finished the game with 150 yards on 26 carries.
“When he gets hot, it is hard to take him off the field,” Elliott said. “He had that week off because of his ankle so I think that really helped him late in the season. He was able to catch his breath going down the stretch.”
“Some backs, if they don’t get the ball just five times in the first half, they might not be able to do what he has been doing,” Elliott continued. “But he has been able to stay focused and understands that every single play on the field can be the most important play, not just when we are giving him the ball.”
If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.
