Nate Wiggins
Wiggins is another name most Clemson fans already put in the special category, but it was a long and winding road to get there in 2022.
At one point after the Wake Forest game, most people thought the hype train had gotten a little out of control for the then-sophomore who had been praised effusively by Dabo Swinney and his teammates.
Wiggin’s played well in the second half of the season, culminating with an awesome performance against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the ACC Championship game. Nonetheless, the reputation of the Tiger secondary as a weak point for the defense had stuck. Several breakdowns in the Orange Bowl didn’t help change that perception.
As the Tigers begin 2023, there is hope for a big turnaround. The secondary will be very experienced. Given the numbers at linebacker, there will likely be five defensive backs on the field at a time.
Wiggins has a chance to stand out as a shutdown corner this season. Sheridan Jones returns on the other side, so it is less likely teams can just avoid Wiggins as they did when Mackensie Alexander or Trayvon Mullen played for the Tigers. There doesn’t appear to be a weak link in the backfield.