So, South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette has never heard of Nate Wiggins?
He may be one of the few. Unless Legette has been residing under a rock since the middle of last season, there is no way he would not have at least heard the name. Clemson’s lockdown junior corner now has all the bulletin board material he needs going into Saturday’s game at Williams-Brice Stadium. Not that he needed extra fodder, anyway.
Legette confidently sat before the media and downplayed his Tiger counterpart. To your peril, young man. Wiggins has made a habit this season of shutting down receivers just as good as the Gamecocks’ wideout. Ask Keon Coleman. The final score notwithstanding, Coleman did next to nothing while being covered by Wiggins. Only when the latter was injured at the end of regulation did the Florida State star make any significant reception.
Legette Said WHAT about Nate Wiggins??
But now, with his team staring down the barrel of a 5-7 record and no bowl game, Legette chooses this moment to talk guff.
Ok then.
Looking at the Tigers’ secondary, it has easily been among the dominant back ends in all of college football. Against three other elite ACC quarterbacks, the Clemson unit held that trio all well under their season averages for yards and completion percentage. Wiggins is but one gear in the machine, but he is the mechanism that makes it run.
And NFL pundits agree. Wiggins is projected as a first-round draft pick and one of the first corners off the board on draft day. His game against North Carolina last week ensured him a large pay day, too.
Not only did he have an interception, but Wiggins prevented the Tigers from falling into a dire 14-0 hole late in the second quarter, chasing down Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton over 60 yards to strip the ball away for a touchback at the one-yard line. It was one of the more sensational plays of the college football season and one that Coach Dabo Swinney said inspired him.
“I’ll be talking about (that play) for the rest of my career,” beamed Swinney. “It was incredible. That kid can absolutely fly. Nate was at a little more than 22 miles per hour. Just smoking. It was one of the greatest plays I’ve seen. It’s probably the best game of his career.”
Dabo Swinney
But, yet, the player who will face Wiggins down has never heard of him. Right.
At least South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer has. And I would bet a nickel to a dollar he is having some restless nights wondering how to free up his bell cow receiver with Clemson’s best corner ready to lock him down like Fort Knox.
Certainly, you must play the game, and anything can happy. Xavier may get the best of Nate, though I doubt it. Legette is undoubtedly a great player. To say you have not heard of your opponents’ best secondary defender and future NFL first-rounder is still incredibly short-sighted. Perhaps Legette was even speaking in hyperbole to stir the rivalry pot. If so, sometimes it is best not to rattle the cage.
Either way, there is bravado on both sides. Probably more from the Gamecocks than a team with a 5-6 record needs to have, especially when their most hated rival is coming to town red hot with three straight wins behind them.
But Legette’s statement just makes for good talking points and adds yet another dimension to one of the great rivalries in college football. Who could ask for more?
“We ain’t done, man. We got one more shot,” proclaimed Legette earlier this week.
Bring it.
