Former Clemson Star Takes First Career Pick to the House
By: Robert MacRae January 4, 2025

Former Clemson star Nate Wiggins came up with the first interception of his NFL career on Saturday, and he took it to the crib.

Wiggins’ first career interception was extra special — a pick-six.

The Baltimore Ravens rookie cornerback jumped a route, picked off Cleveland Browns quarterback Bailey Zappe and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown early in the Ravens’ Week 18 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Wiggins’ big play put the Ravens on the board and gave them a 7-0 lead with 8:32 remaining in the first quarter, with Baltimore (11-5) trying to clinch the AFC North title with a victory.

The highlight from Wiggins showed off some of why the Ravens selected him in the first round (30th overall pick) of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Wiggins has stepped up as the season’s gone on and played a big part in helping the Ravens be one of the best defenses in the NFL since Week 11. The 6-foot-1, 182-pounder entered Saturday’s game with 32 tackles, 12 pass breakups and a forced fumble across 14 games (five starts) in his first NFL campaign.

A 2023 first-team All-ACC selection, Wiggins finished his career at Clemson (2021-23) with 50 tackles (3.0 for loss), 24 pass breakups, three interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, a sack and a blocked field goal over 34 games (18 starts).

–Photo courtesy Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images