Film Room: Nate Wiggins has a high football IQ and commensurate movement skills.
During the NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders will prioritise adding a cornerback, and Clemson’s Nate Wiggins is an intriguing prospect in that position.
According to Pro Football Focus, Wiggins put up some impressive numbers this past season, giving up a 43.9 completion percentage, 176 yards, and a 44.4 passer rating when targeted. With at least 200 coverage snaps, those numbers placed the ACC’s cornerbacks in fifth, eighth, and sixth place.
The video below showcases the Clemson product’s unique combination of route recognition and movement skills, which is what sets him apart from the competition.
The first video features Wiggins in an off-coverage position against Johnny Wilson, a 235-pound wide receiver who stands 6’7″ and is currently expected to be selected in the third round. In an attempt to get Wiggins to bite on the curl route and win deep, Wilson takes a stutter-and-go route. Nonetheless, as he stays close to the receiver, the cornerback’s ability to recognise routes becomes useful.
Wiggins closes the distance and contests the catch physically with his hands after Wilson breaks for the go route. Despite possessing a considerable size advantage, the wideout is unable to come down with the grab because the corner positions himself perfectly between the ball and the receiver.
Wiggins, in contrast, is listed as 6’2″ and 185 pounds, so he is the winner.
In contrast, Wiggins is listed as 6’2″ and 185 pounds, so he defeats a strong opponent on a contested catch while giving up roughly 50 pounds and five inches in height.
Here, Wiggins draws Keon Coleman, another outstanding receiver from Florida State and a possible first-round selection.
Coleman breaks in on a post route, but Wiggins is somewhat turned around this time as he opens his hips to the sideline to play the go route. The corner, on the other hand, stays in phase on the route by using his hands and hip mobility to flip his hips in the opposite direction.
Because of the slight underthrow, the pass becomes a jump ball. Wiggins finds the source with good accuracy.
Because of the slight underthrow, the pass becomes a jump ball. Wiggins picks up a PBU against another excellent player by doing a fantastic job of finding the ball in the air and using his vertical to go up and get it.
This next play, which showcases the Clemson product’s football IQ and hip fluidity, is somewhat of a hybrid of the previous two.
When the receiver begins to stem the route inside while he is lined up in off-coverage, Wiggins opens his hips to the middle of the field, allowing the wideout to break towards the sideline on an out route. But Wiggins sees what’s happening, turns his hips 180 degrees, and ultimately beats the receiver to the spot, cutting the receiver.
In the video above, Wiggins initiates the play on second and ten yards out from the line of scrimmage. With Double China running to the wide side of the field, North Carolina is forcing the two outside receivers to use short/five-yard in routes.
This implies that Wiggins will have very little chance of stopping the completion here, but once he understands the passing concept, he does a great job of triggering the downhill and closing. His burst or acceleration is particularly noticeable because it allows him to get to the receiver almost immediately after the ball travels seven yards. This keeps the Tarheels from getting any yards after the catch, putting them in a third-and-long scenario.
The slight underthrow turns the pass into a jump ball. Against another outstanding player, Wiggins picks up a PBU by finding the ball in the air and using his vertical to go up and get it.
This next play is a bit of a cross between the previous two, showcasing the Clemson product’s football IQ and hip fluidity.
Wiggins opens his hips to the middle of the field to allow the wideout to break towards the sideline on an out route when the receiver starts to stem the route inside while he is lined up in off-coverage. However, Wiggins notices what’s going on, twists his hips to face the receiver, and finally beats him to the spot, cutting him.
