Tennessee added a massive piece to its 2017 secondary on Wednesday afternoon when former Georgia and Louisville cornerback Shaq Wiggins announced via Twitter that he would be finishing up his career with the Vols.
https://twitter.com/ShaqWiggins6/status/857268229839998980
Wiggins, who will be eligible immediately as a graduate transfer, comes to Tennessee following stints with both the Cardinals and Bulldogs. The Tyrone, Ga., native had an injury-plagued 2016 season where he appeared in just eight games, but was an honorable mention All-ACC player in 2015 for Louisville after recording 30 tackles, 11 PBUs and a pair of interceptions in 13 games for the Cardinals.
The former four-star and top-200 recruit had a big impact for Georgia in 2013 as well after he started eight games as a freshman in 2013 with 17 tackles, four PBUs and two touchdowns that season. He had one of his most productive games against Tennessee that season, recording a season-high six stops against the Vols in 2013.
Wiggins (5-10, 175) chose the Vols over several other SEC opportunities including Mississippi State and South Carolina this year. Tennessee’s depth chart at cornerback is most likely a big factor in that choice. The Vols are replacing Cam Sutton and Malik Foreman at cornerback with a group that includes Emmanuel Moseley, Baylen Buchanan, Justin Martin and others. Outside of Moseley, who has generally been a No. 2 cornerback for the Vols, none of the other candidates have been consistent SEC starters.
That leaves Wiggins a great opportunity to contribute early in Knoxville as the Vols look to retool a defense that struggled in 2016.
