Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins possesses premier speed and playmaking ability and is a solid prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Here is everything to know about Wiggins’ journey to the draft.
Where Did Nate Wiggins’ Football Career Start?
Wiggins originally attended Grady High School in Atlanta, Ga., before transferring to Westlake High School for his senior season.
In high school, Wiggins played both wide receiver and cornerback but was primarily recruited as cornerback. At the conclusion of his high school career, Wiggins would be selected to, and play in, the 2021 All-American Bowl.
Wiggins was a four-star recruit ranked the nation’s No. 7 overall corner prospect. He originally committed to play college football at LSU before flipping to Clemson University four days prior to national signing day.
Revisiting Wiggins’ College Career
In his freshman year in 2021, Wiggins was credited with three tackles and three pass breakups in 130 snaps over 11 games and was an ACC Honor Roll selection. He made his Clemson debut on special teams against No. 5 Georgia.
In 2022, Wiggins was credited with 22 tackles (two for loss), a team-high 12 pass breakups, a blocked field goal, and an interception that returned 98 yards for a touchdown in 767 defensive snaps over 13 games with 11 starts.
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Wiggins played the most snaps of any member of the Clemson secondary that year and the second-most on defense behind linebacker Barrett Carter. Wiggins’ 12 pass breakups were one shy of the Clemson sophomore record of 13 shared by James Lott (1987) and Justin Miller (2003), and were the most in a season by a Clemson defender since Coty Sensabaugh’s 13 in 2011.
In his final year at Clemson in 2023, Wiggins had 25 tackles (one for loss), a team-high nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one sack, and two interceptions, one of which he returned 46 yards for his second career touchdown, in 480 snaps over 10 games (seven starts).
Wiggins’ Potential in the NFL
Pro Football Network Draft Analyst Ian Cummings said Wiggins is a young and promising cornerback who has all of the tools to be a productive and multi-disciplined cover man at the next level.
“At around 6’2″, 182 pounds, he’s a lean athlete with an enthralling mix of quickness, elite closing speed, fluidity, and ball skills,” Cummings wrote of Wiggins. “Beyond that physical combination, Wiggins also has some of the best coverage instincts, eyes, reaction speed, and route recognition in the class. He can blanket WRs in off-man and click-and-close without giving up room. And on reps from space, he can transition from his pedal in zone and hawk in front of ill-fated passes.”
MORE: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Nate Wiggins
Some of Wiggins’ strengths, according to Cummings, include being a tall, lean cornerback with excellent efficiency of motion and disruptive range, and having the hinge fluidity to swivel around at stems and accelerate freely on transitions.
Highlights, Records, and More
Wiggins was a First-Team All-ACC selection by College Football Network in 2022.
In 2023, he was a first-team All-ACC selection and also collected First-Team All-ACC honors from the AP, USA Today, and Pro Football Focus. He garnered Second-Team All-ACC status from Phil Steele and College Football Network.
Wiggins became the first Clemson player since Rex Varn in 1977-78 to score on an interception return in back-to-back seasons.
