Detailing why Nate Wiggins could surprise teams at NFL Combine

On3’s Andy Staples has been covering some of the top storylines in college football just ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. But he recently brought in some help from a newcomer to the company, Phillip Dukes.

Recently, the two discussed some of the top players in this year’s group of prospects, addressing their strengths and opportunities at the next level. Dukes also revealed his surprise player, who he believes will be a sleeper in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“I think that Nate Wiggins, the cornerback at Clemson, he’s really gonna surprise some people,” said Dukes. “I think he is starting to move up the board a little bit, to where he’s in that top 20 range. But I’m hearing he could run 4.2. And if he runs a 4.2, he’s going to light to Combine up at his at his height.”

Wiggins is the ideal size for a lockdown corner in today’s NFL at six feet two inches. But what has him shooting up the board in Dukes’ mind is his potential speed. Adding a 4.2 40-yard dash time to Wiggins’s size and production would make him the ideal cornerback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Wiggins is battle-tested, playing all three years during his time at Clemson, including four games as a true freshman back in 2021. This season, his junior year, the Atlanta, GA, native manufactured his best performance for the Tigers. Wiggins finished Clemson’s 2023 regular season recording 29 total tackles, 23 solo, six passes defended, forced two fumbles, and had two interceptions, with one of them returned for a touchdown.

“He has the in-game production that you would want. He’s got the length, got great hips, [and] he wins a lot more at the point of attack when you talk about high pointing the ball as a defender. But I think the speed factor is something that people aren’t factoring in. I know he’s gonna run 4.3, but I think he’s a guy that could push 4.2.”

Fans want to wait long to see what kind of speed Wiggins is bringing to the NFL, as the defensive backs are scheduled to take the field for on-field drills on Friday, March 1, starting at 2:00 PM CT. If the information Dukes has received on Wiggins is accurate, the former Clemson star could see a significant spike in his draft stock, catapulting to the top of the first round.