The Clemson Tigers are hearing some great news with multiple starters planning to play in the bowl game, but there’s also a key casualty coming in the secondary. Cornerback Nate Wiggins announced he’ll skip the bowl, and it’s for good reason.

Across all major boards, Wiggins is listed as one of if not the top cornerback in the class. Standing at 6-foot-2, the incredible length at corner can’t be undermined. Match that with the fact that multiple Tigers are on record calling Wiggins the fastest player at Clemson and that’s unteachable talent any NFL team would want.

Looking further, he’s up to 24 pass breakups over three seasons and 22 came in the last two years. 48 solo tackles in the last two seasons also proves his capability in open field and run support. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler curated his early big board, and Wiggins is ranked as the top cornerback on his list.

Wiggins is long and fast with the sudden feet to easily redirect and stay attached to routes. There are a few concerning areas of his game, most notably his marginal play strength, but Wiggins (one INT, four passes defended) shows a knack for playing through the hands of receivers.

Though he gave up a touchdown in his return from injury against Miami on Oct. 21, he also had a pair of pass breakups and an impressive chase-down forced fumble.

Wiggins has a knack for the football and it’s represented in the fact he’s one of a short list of FBS players with multiple interceptions and forced fumbles. The sentiment Brugler delivered is matched by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., but he has the Tigers standout as the fourth cornerback going in the 2024 draft and No. 20 overall.

Clemson has struggled this season, but Wiggins stands out all over the Tigers’ defensive tape. He has had an impressive season despite missing two games with a knee injury. He has allowed just eight catches for 52 yards as the nearest defender in coverage this season, though two of those have been turned into touchdowns. He has the length and recovery speed to match up effectively with any wideout he goes up against. Wiggins shows a smooth turning motion, good instincts in coverage and can make up ground in a hurry while using his height and arm length as a major advantage.

It’s still early, but considering the confidence his teammates have displayed in Wiggins, the freak athlete Clemson fans are aware of could break the internet when it’s time for the Combine. For now, he’s still earned the respect across the nation and is a shoe-in as a first-round pick.