Who’s the best running back in the ACC?

Earlier this season Clemson coach Dabo Swinney referred to Florida State’s Dalvin Cook as the best running back in the nation. Clemson’s Wayne Gallman agrees the best running back in the country will play at Death Valley on Saturday, but he doesn’t agree with Swinney on who that is.

“I like to think of myself as the best. I’m doubting myself if I don’t think that way,” Gallman said. “A lot of other players have a lot of accolades and have that respect, but to me, I think I am.”

Gallman has certainly put himself in the conversation eight games into his redshirt sophomore season. His 874 rushing yards are second in the ACC, behind Cook’s 1,037, and he is 13^th in the country out of power five school running backs in rushing.

Gallman has topped the 100-yard mark in five of Clemson’s past six games.

“He’s definitely a different breed just in the way he runs so hard on every play,” Tigers tight end Jordan Leggett said. “In my opinion I think he’s the best back in the country. He might not get the spotlight like Ezekiel Elliott and Cook, but to me I think he’s the best back in the country.”

Gallman is averaging less than 20 carries per game, but combined for 53 the past two weeks in wins over Miami and NC State.

The Tigers had their two best offensive performances of the season the past two weeks, scoring 58 at Miami and 56 at N.C. State.

With Gallman rushing for a season-high 172 yards against the Wolfpack, quarterback Deshaun Watson also had his best game of the year, completing 23 of 30 passes for 383 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

“His running ability really opens up everybody else in the passing game,” Leggett said.

Gallman played in a Wing-T offense in high school and said making the transition to a spread offense took some time. He averaged only seven carries and 28 yards per game through seven games last year before rushing 113 times for 571 yards the final six games.

“All the little things we do, all the practice and all the drills coach (Tony) Elliott has us doing, it clicked probably in the middle of the year last year,” Gallman said.

Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said Gallman put in a lot of hard work to get to where he is today.

“Wayne takes a lot of pride in his job. He’s really had to work at it because he was not a one-back running back in high school,” Scott said. “He was more of a wing-back in a little bit different type of offense, so he’s had to really learn.”

In Clemson’s three games decided by two touchdowns or less, 244 of Gallman’s 422 rushing yards came in the second half.

“As the game goes on and people may get tired or weakened he just gets stronger and stronger it seems,” Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain said. “It speaks to the way he practices. We’re in warmups and coaches are having to slow him down and tell him to calm down a little bit.”

While Gallman is trying to work his way into the conversation of being the best back in the country, Cook’s consistency over the last 10 games has him considered among the nation’s elite.

During the 10-game stretch, which includes the 2014 ACC Championship game and last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal, Cook rushed for 1,461 yards on 197 carries. He is averaging 7.4 yards per rush during that time and 8.2 yards per carry this year.

“Dalvin Cook is as good as there is at any position in the country,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “A dynamic football player, he can do it all. He can score every time he touches the ball. They’re creative in getting him the ball both in the running and throwing game.”

He sat out FSU’s 45-21 win over Syracuse last week with a hamstring injury, but Venables expects Cook to be at his best Saturday against the Tigers.

“He’s fast, good balance, strong, got good instincts, runs with power, good pace to him,” Venables said. “He’s a home-run back. He blocks, he protects and does it well. He’ll knock somebody on the ground in protection and then he’ll turn around and catch the ball on the check down and run for 40. He can do it all.”

Gallman said he is looking forward to the matchup with Cook on a national stage. When asked if he gets enough respect he replied, “To be truthful probably not, but it is what it is. I’m just trying to help my team win.”

With a victory on Saturday the Tigers can clinch a spot in the ACC Championship game and perhaps get Gallman the attention he believes he deserves.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 9:16 PM with the headline "Who’s the best running back in the ACC?."