Veteran experience is a commodity in sports, and that holds very true in college football. It often takes time for players to adjust to this level and that’s why many don’t break out until later in their career.

Clemson was a larger exception to that in 2023, and the cornerback position may be the biggest case of it. The poster boy of the unit was Nate Wiggins, and he’s set to be a massive commodity in this year’s NFL draft.

He wasn’t present in the Gator Bowl victory, and we got a larger glance at the future of the position. Jaedyn Lukus was also out, leaving four scholarship corners.

Avieon Terrell has proved to be one of the Tigers’ best moving forward, and we saw more flashes out of Shelton Lewis. The two were true freshmen and thrust into massive roles under unexpected circumstances. Still, the poise was evident during Clemson’s comeback victory.

“Even when I wasn’t starting and stuff like that, I was mentally prepared to be the starter. So having the older guys, Nate Wiggins. He’s still talking to me before this game,” Lewis said.

The class rolling in adds to this narrative. The trio of Tavoy Feagin, Corian Gipson and Ashton Hampton give Mike Reed depth the group desperately needed at the tail end of the season.

Add in the return of Jaedyn Lukus and the Tigers have the pieces at cornerback for at least the next two seasons.

Terrell and Lewis are the catalysts for this unit, and we saw the duo make a multitude of plays this season. The two combined for 14 pass breakups and three interceptions. Lukus will be the lone junior in this group, and the rest is an abundance of youth to grow in Clemson’s defensive future.