Clemson CB Nate Wiggins Hurt at NFL Combine

INDIANAPOLIS — Clemson cornerback and potential Pittsburgh Steelers first-round target Nate Wiggins ran a blazing 4.29 at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. And while that turned a lot of heads, Wiggins said after the run that he ‘felt something pop’ in his groin after the run, according to NFL Network’s Stacey Dales.

But after coming out from seeing the medical staff, Wiggins told Dales that the injury was a hip flexor and he should be okay to go during his pro day at Clemson. That is good news for Wiggins, who wanted to run a 4.2 if he could, so even 4.29 for him was a bit of a disappointment in his eyes.

Wiggins had to run well after measuring in just north of 170 pounds. He is the lightest cornerback in the NFL Draft invited to Indianapolis. So, the time will help his stock even with the questions about his demeanor in the run game and propensity to play with physicality.

Wiggins is a fluid, ball-hawking cornerback that fits well in most defenses. On Clemson’s tape, they often played him toward the boundary, and he rose to challenges throughout their games. It sticks out just how smart Wiggins is on tape, too, as he can drop back in zone coverage and make impressive plays through his route recognition. At 6-foot-2, Wiggins has both good size, though he does not have good length.

His frame is a bit light, and while it’s not as bad as someone like Emmanuel Forbes from last year, he can still have some reps where he gets bullied in the screen game or against the run. Still, he shows an appetite to compete on the field, and has noticeably put effort into improving his tackling, especially on plays in space. He is a worthy pick at 20th overall, and would fit well across from Joey Porter Jr.