Dabo Swinney details how Nate Wiggins has grown following big ACC title game performance

Clemson had one of the top defenses in the ACC all season, and they showed up big for them in their conference title game holding North Carolina to just 10 points in a 39-10 victory. One of their best plays of the night came from cornerback Nate Wiggins, who took scoring into his own hands with a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter. Head coach Dabo Swinney spoke about the performance of Wiggins, and his ACC Championship record play.

“Wow, I didn’t know it was a record that’s awesome,” Swinney said. “He’s been close, he’s missed on about three of those pick-sixes this year, where he’s really been there.”

Wiggins’ pick-six was the first interception of his career that served as the nail in the coffin in a championship game, extending the Tigers’ lead to 32-10. It’ll surely be a moment he’ll never forget, and was a product of his growth as a player and person according to Swinney.

“But he’s a great player and he’s just really matured, he’s gotten more focused, he’s gotten more detailed as the year has gone on and I’m really proud of him. He’s a very very talented young man, he’s a guy that early on just a little rough around the edges, a little immature when it comes to really doing what you need to do programmatically and he’s just come full circle, he really has,” Swinney explained. “The players love him, he’s a great teammate, he really loves to play, he loves football and I love that about him, it’s important to him but I love how he’s grown from a detail standpoint.”

Wiggins’ big night didn’t end with his interception return, he also recorded two tackles, two big pass breakups, and blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter which led to a Clemson touchdown the following offensive possession. He definitely made his presence felt on the Tigers’ biggest stage of the season, and will hopefully do so in their Orange Bowl and beyond moving forward.

“He’s had a bunch of pass breakups, but tonight was awesome, and again we got pressure on Drake (Maye) and were able to make him hold the ball longer than he wanted to a few times and make him get rid of it a little earlier than he wanted to a couple times,” Swinney said. “And that was just a great play right there and then an unbelievable return, I mean he can really run so that was obviously a huge play and just really happy for him. And again, just a sophomore, got a lot of good football in front of him.”