CLEMSON in the NFL

Nate Wiggins is set to begin his pro career in Baltimore.
Nate Wiggins is set to begin his pro career in Baltimore.

Clemson’s Nate Wiggins picked in NFL draft first round by Ravens
by - Thu Apr 25 23:37:32 GMT-04:00 2024

Former Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins continued a tradition of early NFL draft picks from the Tiger secondary.

Wiggins was selected with the 30th overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. Up to last year, the Ravens had never picked a Clemson player, but this is the second consecutive draft now after a Trenton Simpson selection in 2023. Former Clemson CB Trayvon Mullen is also on the Ravens roster.

Wiggins is the third Clemson defender to go in the first round in the last two editions, joining Myles Murphy (No. 28 to Cincinnati) and Bryan Bresee (No. 29 to New Orleans. Wiggins is the second first-round cornerback from Clemson since 2020 (AJ Terrell to Atlanta in 2020, No. 16 overall) and a sixth first-rounder from the all-time Clemson secondary since 1983.

He is the 18th Clemson first-round pick of Dabo Swinney’s era as head coach. Clemson has had a first-round selection in 10 of the last 12 drafts, standing alongside Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Ohio State as the only programs in the nation to do so.

The 30th pick is slotted $12.5 million with a $5.9 million signing bonus (per Spotrac).

Coaches reaction

Head Coach Dabo Swinney: “Nate is as talented as we’ve ever had come through here at his position from a skill set standpoint. Really, really fast. He’s really honed his craft from when I first met him. He’s a really competitive kid, and how he channeled his competitiveness, he’s really developed. [Cornerbacks Coach] Mike Reed has done a great job with him these past three years. I’m really proud of this kid because he’s grown a lot. What I love most about Nate is that this guy is as tough as they come. He’s a guy that is unbelievably competitive when he steps on the field and he plays with a high motor. You saw that firsthand with plays he made against Miami and North Carolina where both plays were basically over, but because of his extra effort, he ended up causing fumbles. That’s what you’ve got to love about a guy like him. He’s got length, he’s got speed, he’s got the technique, he’s got good ball skills, but to me, it’s his love of football. He really, really loves to compete and he’s not afraid to be physical at corner. He’s got rare attributes that you don’t always see in a defensive back.”

Assistant Head Coach/Cornerbacks Coach Mike Reed: “Nate is an extremely gifted young man, and it was a pleasure to coach him. He loves to play ball. Very competitive and athletic. When you think of Nate, you think of speed and explosiveness. [He is] a true athlete. The fastest young man that I have coached. His skill set will transition to the NFL very quickly and he will be a major contributor on the field as well as in the community.”

Clemson notes on Wiggins' selection

- Wiggins became the 78th NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 18th first-round pick of Swinney’s tenure. Both are the most of any active FBS head coach.

- Wiggins became Clemson’s 39th first-round pick in NFL Draft history.

- Wiggins’ selection marked the eighth time in the last 10 years that a defensive player was Clemson’s first selection in a draft. The two exceptions in that nine-year span came in 2017 (WR Mike Williams at No. 7) and 2021 (QB Trevor Lawrence at No. 1). Clemson’s defense has now produced the program’s first pick of an NFL Draft 17 times since the turn of the century and in 11 of the 16 drafts of Dabo Swinney’s tenure.

- Wiggins became the 41st Clemson defensive back drafted in the Common Draft era (since 1967). He joined Terry Kinard (No. 10 in 1983), Donnell Woolford (No. 11 in 1989), Antwan Edwards (No. 25 in 1999), Tye Hill (No. 15 in 2006) and A.J. Terrell (No. 16 in 2020) as the sixth Clemson defensive back to be a first-round pick in that span.

- Wiggins became the 18th Clemson defensive back coached directly by Assistant Head Coach/Cornerbacks Coach Mike Reed to either be drafted or signed in the NFL.

- The selection of Wiggins — an Atlanta native — marked the fourth consecutive year that Clemson’s first selection in an NFL Draft hailed from the state of Georgia (Cartersville’s Trevor Lawrence in 2021, Dacula’s Andrew Booth Jr. in 2022 and Marietta’s Myles Murphy in 2023.

- Wiggins became the second Clemson player drafted by the Baltimore Ravens all-time. Prior to last year, the Ravens had never drafted a Clemson player until selecting linebacker Trenton Simpson in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

- Wiggins became Clemson’s second No. 30 overall pick all-time, joining Dave Thompson’s selection by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft.

Clemson bio

Long, gifted, athletic corner who finished his Clemson career credited by the coaching staff with 50 tackles (3.0 for loss), 24 pass breakups, three interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, a sack and a blocked field goal in 1,377 career snaps over 34 games (18 starts) from 2021-23 … scored touchdowns of 98 yards (an ACC Championship Game record) and 46 yards on pick-sixes in 2022 and 2023 respectively … became the first Clemson player since Rex Varn in 1977-78 to score on an interception return in back-to-back seasons … accounted for two of the 16 career interceptions thrown by first-round NFL Draft pick Drake Maye … elite cover corner who blossomed into a complete player as a first-team All-ACC pick in 2023.

NFL draft prospect rankings

PFF: 24

ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr.): 25

ESPN (Matt Miller): 28

ESPN (Jordan Reid): 27

The Athletic: 24 (1st-2nd round projection)

NFL.com grade/analysis

Grade: 6.43 (“Will become good starter within two years”)

Analysis: “Wiggins’ combination of coverage talent and traits could make him a defensive coordinator’s dream. He’s tall, long and fast with rare recovery speed when beaten. Silky smooth lower-body movement allows him to mirror releases and trace routes without much effort…Wiggins' speed, scheme versatility and playmaking instincts should make him the most sought after cornerback in the draft.” - Lance Zierlein

Ultimate Level LogoUpgrade Your Account

Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.

Upgrade Now
Comment on this story
Print   
Send Feedback to TigerNet Staff: Email | Comment
Clemson's ACC Softball Championship bracket set
Clemson's ACC Softball Championship bracket set
Clemson defender tabbed as highly-ranked recruit "meeting the hype"
Clemson defender tabbed as highly-ranked recruit "meeting the hype"
Tiger bats start strong to take doubleheader opener over Jackets
Tiger bats start strong to take doubleheader opener over Jackets
Clemson signs All-Conference forward
Clemson signs All-Conference forward
Post your comments!
Read all 15 replies on the NFL Board - Chat about this in TigerActive Chat
search
Top Clemson News of the Week
📰 E-Mail News Alerts