There’s a lot of reasons players are selected high in the NFL Draft. Skills, stats, athleticism, knowledge.
One thing you can never get back is age. Former Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins has a large advantage in that regard. He will be just 20 years old when he is selected.
To just put into perspective of the other Tigers prospects, Xavier Thomas is 24 years old and Tyler Davis is 23 years old. That’s a big difference that some teams will take account for.
Looking at all cornerback prospects in this class, Wiggins is the youngest. He’s also one of the nine youngest players in this cycle.
Prospects that will be only 20-years old when drafted (h/t @dpbrugler's draft guide):
UT RB Jonathon Brooks
Wisco RB Braelon Allen
ND RB Audric Estime
LSU WR Malik Nabers
FSU WR Keon Coleman
UT WR Xavier Worthy
OSU DT Mike Hall Jr.
Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
USC S Calen Bullock— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) April 25, 2024
Wiggins runs a 4.28 40, and the speed shows up on the tape. He was also a first-team All-ACC cornerback and one of the stickiest in the country.
According to Pro Football Focus, Wiggins allowed just a 44.4 passer rating on the season. He also allowed just 176 yards across the entire year.
The biggest slight people will have is his tackling and there’s merit to it. That brings us back to the first point. Wiggins is extremely young and as a 6-foot-2 cornerback, he has plenty of time to learn.
The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off at 8 p.m. Thursday, televised on ESPN.