Did Nate Wiggins ever think about leaving Clemson because of NIL money?

Wiggins, now a rookie cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens, was asked that question in an interview on the Punch Line Podcast with fellow Ravens star corner Marlon Humphrey.

Wiggins, who played for the Tigers from 2021-23 and earned first-team All-ACC honors as a junior, admitted that he did indeed contemplate going somewhere else besides Clemson for NIL following his freshman campaign.

“After my freshman season, I wanted to go somewhere else,” Wiggins said. “Then my momma told me, like wait another year. Then I had like a crazy sophomore season, then I’m like, I’m just going to stay here.”

Wiggins, who went on to be a first-round selection (30th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, was asked directly if he told Clemson “give me my money or I’m leaving.”

Wiggins said that his agent basically did.

“My agent told Dabo,” Wiggins said.

A former four-star prospect from the Peach State, Wiggins originally committed to LSU in August 2020 before formally flipping his commitment to Clemson four days before college football’s early signing period began in December of that year.

Wiggins said while he was at Clemson, he considered transferring to Oregon, where he was silently committed to at one stage of the recruiting process.

“I was really trying to go out there before I went to Clemson,” Wiggins said. “I was committed to LSU, and Coach O (former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron) got fired. Then I silently committed to Oregon, then my momma called them and told them I wasn’t going because it was too far. Then I went to Clemson.”

Wiggins finished his career at Clemson 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).

The 6-foot-1, 182-pounder ranked first among cornerbacks and second among all players with a blistering 4.28 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Combine this past spring.

Wiggins has played in six games (three starts) so far in his first season with the Ravens (5-2). He missed the team’s Week 2 game after being after being involved in a September car accident, but fortunately, he came through it OK and has tallied 13 total tackles, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble this season.

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