Gallman among many Tigers that have developed well

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney has a simple explanation for why running back Wayne Gallman has, essentially, doubled his production this season as compared to his freshman campaign.

“Father Time taking place,” Swinney said. “Gallman just grew up.”

Last season, Gallman established himself as the team’s top rushing threat as the season wore on and closed with a flourish to finish with 769 yards and five touchdowns.

This season, he picked up where he left off, surpassing 100 yards in three of the first five games and finishing with a school-record eight 100-yard games. The sophomore enters the Orange Bowl with 1,332 yards and needs 14 yards to supplant Raymond Priester as Clemson’s single-season rushing leader.

“His work ethic, how he’s built his body, all of that comes with more confidence,” Swinney said. “Then our offensive line has done a tremendous job blocking for him. Guys get better.”

Gallman has not been alone in getting better with time. His boost in production has been mirrored by several teammates, both on offense and defense, and that has been the primary ingredient in the No. 1-ranked Tigers’ success this season, which resumes Dec. 31 in the College Football Playoff against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

Some of the prime examples:

Tight end Jordan Leggett transformed himself from “Lazy Leggett” to a Mackey Award finalist. After totaling 14 catches for 161 yards with one touchdown as a sophomore, Leggett has 34 catches for 442 yards with seven touchdowns as a junior and is an NFL prospect.

“Guys get better,” Swinney said. “Rarely do you have a Sammy Watkins. But even Sammy was better as a junior than he was as a freshman. I’m a better coach now than I was in 1993.

“If guys will work and do the right things, they’ll develop.”

Much like Kevin Dodd. Dodd, a former standout at Greer’s Riverside High, played sparingly during his first three seasons, but shined when he got his chance this season, capitalizing on the absence of defensive ends Vic Beasley, Corey Crawford and Tavaris Barnes to make a name for himself.

Dodd had 21 career tackles entering his final season; he had more than that in his first four games of 2015.

“Most of the time, guys develop like Kevin Dodd,” Swinney said. “When he was a redshirt freshman, it was like, ‘He may never play here.’ But he got better.”

No question there. Dodd ranks among the defense’s leaders with 74 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss.

Safety T.J. Green also has matured rapidly, becoming the player the Tigers’ coaches have anticipated. In limited playing time confined mostly to special teams as a sophomore, Green managed 24 tackles, but has really come into his own as a full-time starter with 101 tackles and five tackles for loss this season.

And don’t overlook linebacker B.J. Goodson, who paid his dues for three seasons before moving into a starting role this season. After 34 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss last season, he leads the team with 127 stops, including 15 tackles for loss.

“That’s what I try to tell people,” Swinney said. “If you have talent, then it just comes down to experience – that’s it. Father Time taking place.”