Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins is entering a pivotal sophomore season for the Tigers — and things are going well so far.

While a lot of Clemson’s 2022 defense is returning with plenty of experience, that’s not the case at cornerback. The Tigers lost All ACC cornerbacks Mario Goodrich and Andrew Booth Jr. to the NFL Draft.

That leaves the Tigers with big shoes to fill at a key position. The good news for Clemson is that Wiggins seems to be off to a great start. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei told reporters in Charlotte this week that he believes Wiggins is the best cornerback he’s faced.

“I think he’s the best cornerback in college football,” Uiagalelei said, via The Clemson Insider

. “I’ve gone against NFL corners and he’s the best I’ve gone against.

“He’s only going to be a sophomore, but the stuff he does out there in practice with his technique and just his football IQ and reading routes I think is really special.”

Wiggins still hasn’t officially been named a starter yet, but he’s expected to line up across from Sheridan Jones when the Tigers kickoff on Sept. 5. An endorsement like this from Clemson’s starting quarterback certainly won’t hurt his chances.

Wiggins played in 4 games last year as a freshman. He recorded 2 tackles and 2 pass deflections during his limited time on the field.

He arrived at Clemson as a 4-star prospect. Wiggins was the No. 7 overall cornerback in the class of 2021, according 247Sports Composite rankings

. He’s originally from Atlanta, Georgia.

Clemson opens the year with Georgia Tech in Week 1.