Clemson corner Nate Wiggins is a top NFL Draft prospect. Why isn’t he starting?
Clemson football cornerback Nate Wiggins, by all accounts, will be a coveted pro prospect and high-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft next spring.
But he’s missed two straight starts for the Tigers, ceding that coveted spot to a younger teammate in consecutive games against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech.
What gives?
Speaking after Clemson’s 42-21 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday, Swinney said Wiggins, a junior cornerback who’s viewed as a potential first- or second-round draft pick, didn’t start against the Yellow Jackets because he was negative in the team’s in-house “accountability points” metric for a second straight week.
Swinney said last week that Wiggins didn’t start in an upset win over Notre Dame because he missed a tutoring session and dropped into the negative for accountability points. Per team rules, Swinney said, a player negative in accountability points can’t start.
Sophomore Jeadyn Lukus started in place of Wiggins in the Notre Dame game, and true freshman Shelton Lewis started in place of Wiggins for Saturday’s Georgia Tech game.
Wiggins wasn’t benched: In both games, he jogged onto the field after one or two snaps to rejoin the starting defense and played significant snaps in the Tigers secondary (59 against Notre Dame). But he didn’t earn a starting designation in either contest.
Swinney on Saturday didn’t offer a specific reason why Wiggins, who ranked as ESPN analyst Mel Kiper’s No. 22 overall draft prospect in a list released earlier this week, didn’t start against Notre Dame.
“He’s just gotta get positive (in accountability points),” Swinney said after the Tigers moved to 6-4 (3-4 ACC). “He ran out there the second or third play. … I think he got a point or two (back) last week but he’s still, I think, minus-1 — so got more work to do.”
Through eight games this season for Clemson, Wiggins has started five games (he also didn’t start in the season opener against Duke) and has 15 total tackles, six pass deflections and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown against Florida Atlantic.
Wiggins, listed at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, also missed two games earlier this season against Syracuse and Wake Forest after suffering a knee injury against Florida State.
When asked if Wiggins’ absence was surprising or frustrating, given he’s a veteran player on the team, Swinney downplayed any concerns surrounding the cornerback.
“No, it’s just he missed a tutor,” Swinney said. “You show up to tutors, show up on time, you’ll be all right. So he cares. He cares. I mean, we’re not kicking him off the team because he missed a couple of tutors. But we are gonna hold him accountable. And you know if you’re gonna be a starter for this team, you gotta be accountable.”
Wiggins, a four-star recruit who committed to Clemson over LSU late in the 2021 recruiting cycle, admitted in August 2022 he had an “immature” freshman season with the Tigers.
“I had an immature year,” he said, per the Greenville News. “Tutoring. Going to class. Stuff like that. Or just missing practice or being late to practice. Missing weight-lifting. (Swinney) told me I’ve got to go to class. He can’t play nobody that don’t go to class. … I want to play, so I’ve got to go to class. I want to get on the field.”
Wiggins, per Pro Football Focus, had the best coverage grade of any Clemson player heading into the Georgia Tech game. Swinney expects Wiggins to get back on track quickly as the Tigers close the regular season against North Carolina and rival South Carolina.
“He’ll get it done,” Swinney said. “He’s got another week (ahead). Let’s see if he starts next week. We’ll run him out there first if he’s even. He ain’t even gotta be plus, he can just be even. He’s gotta get a point or two somehow some way.”
Next Clemson game
Who: No. 22 North Carolina (8-2, 4-2 ACC) at Clemson (6-4, 3-4 ACC)
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson
Channel: ESPN
This story was originally published November 12, 2023 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Clemson corner Nate Wiggins is a top NFL Draft prospect. Why isn’t he starting?."
