New York Giants: 2017 NFL Draft Pick Wayne Gallman Is A Winner

The New York Giants found a winner during the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Fans are going to appreciate running back Wayne Gallman.

Wayne Gallman is accustomed to being underrated. The New York Giants draftee was a three-star recruit coming out of high school, was redshirted in 2013, and most recently fell to the fourth round in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Up to this point of his football career, every obstacle placed in front of him has been met with a powerful work ethic and a refusal to quit.

General manager Jerry Reese has made it no secret that part of his drafting strategy is finding players and people who fit the identity of the team. He’ll take a gamble on upside, but prefers to draft hard-working individuals who are willing to push through the struggle.

During his post-draft interview, Gallman summarized exactly what it is that Reese sees in him: he’s a winner.

Anyone can say those words, but Gallman has proven true to the very essence of them.

When Gallman joined the Clemson Tigers in 2013, he became a part of Dabo Swinney’s vision for long unattained greatness. He was thrown to the fire as Clemson’s primary running back in 2014, when he was a freshman working alongside a general crop of mediocrity.

Gallman did an admirable job, rushing for 769 yards and four touchdowns with an average of 4.8 yards per carry.

It was during his sophomore and junior seasons, however, that Gallman’s hard work truly paid off.

Gallman erupted in 2015, rushing for 1,514 yards and 13 touchdowns, and pulling down 22 receptions for 226 yards and another score. He amassed 187 rushing yards, 68 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns during the ACC Championship Game.

Gallman then went off for 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns during the CFP Semifinal, and tallied 106 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in the National Championship Game.

Unfortunately, Clemson fell short of its dream of becoming national champions when it lost an unforgettable 45-40 shootout to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

A year later, Gallman struck again with a touchdown in the ACC Championship Game. He ran for 85 yards and another six points in the 31-0 demolition of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the CFP Semifinal.

With a rare opportunity for redemption, Gallman amassed 85 yards from scrimmage and ran for a critical touchdown with 4:38 remaining in a National Championship Game rematch with Alabama.

This time around, Gallman and the Tigers did enough to win it all.

Gallman is a dynamic talent, but it was Clemson’s run to redemption that stands out the most about him as a player. He was a part of a culture of coaches and players who had to dig deep and overcome heartbreak in order to achieve immortality.

Gallman not only rose to the occasion, but proved that he’s willing to buy in and put the team above himself, as he received less carries in more games played.

For the Giants, Gallman represents an opportunity to further establish a winning culture in New York. The defense was dominant a season ago, but New York’s offense needs workhorses who are going to prioritize winning over statistics.

No prospect is guaranteed to experience success in the NFL, but general manager Jerry Reese found his team a winner in Wayne Gallman.

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One brick at a time, the New York Giants are building a bright future.