Dabo Swinney gives harsh take on Nate Wiggins growth as a player

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was brutally honest about 2021 four-star cornerback Nate Wiggins after his first year with the Tigers program, and how he didn’t live up to the program’s expectations in terms of maturity as a freshman.

“Very, very immature guy last year from just from a football – loves to play, incredibly talented, very competitive – but just just a young guy maturing and really buying in to what it takes,” Swinney said. “Because it takes what it takes, there’s no shortcut to it. And I think that’s the biggest thing I saw was him really buying into what it takes to not just be good, but be great. He’s got the ability to be great – Nate the Great.

“He can do it, but [maturity] is his only limitation. I’m really proud of that kid, man, I really am. He’s got a great mama and I’m really glad that we have him. He’s he’s been a lot of fun to coach.”

It wasn’t just maturity that kept Wiggins off the field as a true freshman in 2021. With a litany of veteran defensive backs in front of him, it was always a possibility that the Atlanta native would have to bide his time on the sidelines. He would appear in four games for Clemson last season, totaling two tackles against Florida State and South Carolina State, respectively.

Now that Wiggins is showing a bit more maturity as a sophomore, there could be a place for him in the regular rotation if Swinney is to be believed.

“To me, a guy like Nate is one of the things that – that’s why you coach – because he just needed the right squeeze, if you will,” Swinney said. “In our culture here it’s going to pull you one way or another – is gonna squeeze you up or out, one of the two, and man, he’s allowed it to really squeeze him up.

“He’s had a great spring, a great summer and he’s just really bought into what it takes at Clemson and what it takes for him to reach his potential, so he’s going to be a heck of a player.”