On location with Wayne Gallman

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Thu May 10 16:26:01 GMT-04:00 2012

I get to write a lot of stories about potential Clemson recruits, which means I get to spend a lot of time on the phone. Being on the phone, however, also means you don’t get a sense of exactly what kind of young man you are dealing with or what kind of citizen he will be when and if he becomes a Clemson Tiger.

That is why I always embrace the opportunity to go out and visit some of Clemson’s recruits on their high school campuses, and this past week I drove down to Loganville, Ga., where I got to meet and spend a little bit of time with the ‘Grayson Trio’ of running back Wayne Gallman Wayne Gallman
Running Back
6-1, 195
Loganville, GA
View Full Profile , defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche Robert Nkemdiche
Defensive End
6-5, 265
Loganville, GA
View Full Profile and cornerback David Kamara David Kamara

5-11, 185
Loganville, GA
View Full Profile .

I was impressed with each young man and how respectful and articulate they are, but especially Clemson commit Gallman.

The running back was impressive going through drills, and I was especially blown away by how good of a linebacker he can be. One of the college coaches that was in attendance told me that Gallman could “definitely” play linebacker on the next level, and it’s obvious he has fun playing the position.

However, he told me that running back is where he wants to play.

“I love playing running back,” he said. “When you have that ability to do something you love, there is nothing like it. You get that feeling of, ‘This is what I was meant to do. This is what I want to do.’ Linebacker is fun and all, but running back is it.”

Gallman said that Grayson employs a variety of formations in their running game, and he feels like that is something that will only help him when he arrives at Clemson.

“Throughout our whole offense, we have the spread, the Power I and the Wing T,” he said. “I think it helps that I can adapt to all the different formations. That helps me a lot, because I know at Clemson they will have a lot of different formations. I think it helps me out a lot.”

He said the Tigers and offensive coordinator Chad Morris have already told him where they think he will fit in.

“They want to use me in the Pro I formation,” he said. “He said they have been looking for a good back for that, and they think I can do that. They want to run out of that because they think I am perfect for it.”

Gallman was watched during the practice by coaches from Wake Forest, Wisconsin and Maryland, and the Badger running backs coach is heavy after Gallman. Gallman says that the attention is nice, but it still doesn’t change his decision.

“I am going to Clemson,” he said. “I still have thoughts of seeing other colleges, and when they come in I miss that [the attention]. But that doesn’t change my decision. It is exciting and a blessing having all of these people come down here to try and get me to their school. It is a blessing.”

A year from now, Gallman will be ending his senior year at Grayson and getting ready to enroll at Clemson, and he said he can't wait.

“Just being on campus, and meeting the players and coaches is something I can't wait for,” he said. “I love the whole coaching staff. I have to call them every week, Coach Morris and Coach Elliott, and give them a check up on me. It is just like being in the family, and I cannot wait to get there.”