Dabo Swinney Expects Wayne Gallman Back For FSU Showdown


Clemson running back Wayne Gallman is expected to return from injury against FSU, according to head coach Dabo Swinney. The Tigers are off this week before heading to Tallahassee for an ACC Atlantic division tilt.


Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC) head coach Dabo Swinney said during Wednesday’s weekly ACC coaches teleconference that he expects star running back Wayne Gallman to be back for the team’s much-anticipated ACC Atlantic division showdown with Florida State.

The Tigers are off this week before facing the Seminoles on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Gallman suffered a head injury in the first quarter of last Saturday’s overtime home win against NC State when the Georgia native took a hard hit from Wolfpack defensive back Dravious Wright at the end of an 18-yard catch-and-run.

The redshirt junior, who has rushed 90 times for 489 yards and five touchdowns on the season, was helped off of the field by the training staff and taken into the injury tent on the sideline. He did not return to the game, and was later diagnosed with a concussion.

This past Monday, Swinney held his weekly media teleconference with local reporters and said that Gallman was doing “good” and that he would be held out of practice this week as he goes through the concussion protocol. Based on what Swinney said in his media sessions, Gallman should be back to full health in time to practice next week and prepare for the Seminoles.

C.J. Fuller is the team’s primary backup at running back and rushed 16 times for 56 yards after Gallman left the game against the Wolfpack, while Adam Choice saw action but did not have much success.

The ‘Noles are ranked No. 63 in the nation in rush defense, allowing 155.1 yards per contest. So the Tigers will want to be at full strength on both sides of the ball for a game that has major divisional implications even though FSU’s early losses have taken some luster off of the matchup.

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