When he first got to Clemson in 2013, Wayne Gallman looked at the list of great running backs that have played at Clemson through the years, and he thought to himself, “This is a list I want to be on one day.”
That list of great running backs is occupied by Clemson greats such as Lester Brown, who scored 31 career touchdowns from 1976-’79. Chuck McSwain, the starting tailback during the Tigers’ 1981 National Championship-run. Buddy Gore, the first Clemson tailback to run for 1,000 yards in a season. Terry Allen, one of Gallman’s coaches and arguably the best running back to ever wear the orange and while, who went on to play 10 years in the NFL. Kenny Flowers, Travis Zachery and Andre Ellington are also on the list, as is James Davis—No. 2 all-time—and of course the great C.J. Spiller.
At the top of the list is Raymond Priester who rushed for 3,966 yards in his four years at Clemson from 1994-’97.
“I have seen that his name is on top of the rushing board,” Gallman said.
Priester’s name also sits at the top of the single-season rushing list. The Allendale, S.C. native rushed for 1,345 yards in 1996 while averaging 5.2 yards on 257 carries. But Gallman has closed in on Priester’s 19-year old record, and needs 14 yards in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 to overtake it.
“I was told about it, but I have not thought about it,” Gallman said. “To be up there is pretty exciting.”
Priester thinks so too. That’s why the former great started following Gallman on Facebook and twitter as the young back got closer to the record.
“I knew what I could do it coming into this season,” Gallman said. “It was really about seeing if other people would notice. I don’t need it, but everybody wants a little bit of attention. But really when I look back on how hard I worked out over the summer, I expected it.”
So did members of his offensive line.
“You always expect that out of your guys. We think we have the best here,” left guard Eric Mac Lain said. “We recruit such great talent that this is what they are here for, to break records set by other people.”
That wasn’t the thought process of everyone outside of Clemson. Most figured Gallman was just keeping the seat warm until five-star running back Tavien Feaster got to town next fall. But that’s not how Gallman works.
“Wayne is obviously an angry runner. We found that out during the second half of last year,” Mac Lain said. “He is a young guy that has wheels and wants to run.”
Gallman has run for 1,332 yards so far, which is second in the ACC to Florida State’s Dalvin Cook. He is averaging 5.5 yards on 243 carries and has scored 10 touchdowns. His 111.0 yards per game this year ranks second all-time behind Priester’s 112.1 yards per game in 1996. He has already broken one of Priester’s records, setting a mark with eight 100-yard game rushing performances in a season.
“I have always looked at that board and knew I wanted to get on it before I left,” Gallman said.
But like any record-breaking running back, Gallman understands he is only as good as his offensive line. The Tigers’ big boys have plowed the way for a team average of 222.2 yards per game, the second best average for a Clemson team since the days when Priester was in the backfield.
“We worked really hard this summer and really got our plans down,” Gallman said. “We came out this season with a fire in our bellies.”
Speaking of bellies, Gallman wants to show his appreciation to his offensive line. He says if he has enough bowl money left over, he wants to take them out for dinner.
“Unfortunately Wayne is in college and can’t afford to take the offensive line to dinner, unless we are going to McDonalds,” Mac Lain said jokingly. “He can just get a rain check until he gets to the NFL.”
But seriously, McDonalds is okay with Mac Lain.
“Whatever he can give us. The best is the standard around here. If that’s all he can do then that is all I can ask from him,” the senior said.
Clemson’s all-time single season rushing list
- Raymond Priester (1996) 1,345
- Wayne Gallman (2015) 1,332
- Raymond Priester (1995) 1,322
- Terrence Flagler (1986) 1,258
- J. Spiller (2009) 1,212
- Kenny Flowers (1985) 1,200
- Terry Allen (1988) 1,192
- James Davis (2006) 1,187
- Andre Ellington (2011) 1,178
- Andre Ellington (2012) 1,081