By selecting Wayne Gallman with the 140th pick in the 2017 NFL draft, the New York Giants now have a runner who runs angry with the ball in his hands. Nicknamed the “Wayne Train,” the 6’0, 215-pound bruising back might not be as explosive as LSU’s Leonard Fournette or Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, but he has the size and strength to thrive at the next level.
Giants draft touchdown machine Wayne Gallman in the 4th round
Clemson’s Wayne Gallman isn’t flashy, but his no-frills, no-nonsense running style is plenty effective.
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During his three seasons at Clemson, Gallman ran for 3,429 and 34 touchdowns, with 30 scored in his last two seasons.
The Giants should be ecstatic about drafting the Clemson product because he’s hard to tackle, loves to run north and south, and can finish runs with some of the best backs in this draft.
Why did the Giants select Gallman?
Toughness
To thrive as a running back in the NFL, you must be able to run with toughness and absorb bone-crushing hits. Gallman, who models his game after Adrian Peterson, has that part down. At Clemson, he showed defenses that bringing him to the turf would take a team effort.
Gallman, the son of a Marine, isn’t known for highlight plays and was somewhat overshadowed in college by Deshaun Watson and Mike Williams. But he does two things all coaches want out of their runners: gain yards and never go backward.
Sneaky speed demon
The Clemson product only ran a 4.6 40 at the NFL Combine. While that number isn’t eye-popping, Gallman is still fast for a 215-pound back.
His speed was on display last year against Boston College. Early in the first quarter, he broke two tackles on the way to a 59-yard touchdown run, bouncing the ball to the outside after his path up the gut was blocked.
The 22-year-old doesn’t have the speed to consistently outrun defenders, but he’ll surprise if given the space to run.
Any concerns?
Gallman could potentially be the Giants’ future bell cow. But his vision must improve if he wants to be successful. There isn’t as much room to maneuver at the next level. In addition, he can’t allow defenders to get under his pads. Even though he’s a big-bodied runner, leverage still matters. His power is negated running so high.
Lastly, Gallman isn’t a good pass protector. As a running back, if you can’t pass protect, you don’t play.
But if Gallman can hone his skills in pass protection, improve his vision, and lower his pads before making contact, he could become a productive back in the league.
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