As Clemson football and its fans see players leave for the draft, return for another year or even go into the transfer portal, the alumni continue to hold their weight in the NFL playoffs. With the wild card round coming to a close, here are three key former Tigers to keep your eyes on as the postseason continues:
DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver | Kansas City Chiefs
The former Clemson standout receiver has finally reached the playoffs again for the first time since 2019, when he was with the Houston Texans.
The 32-year-old’s playoff hopes were slim at the start of the year when he was with the Tennessee Titans as they were 1-5. Hopkins wasn’t seeing the ball very much either, recording just 15 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown in the six-game span.
He requested a trade and made an instant impact when arriving in Kansas City, catching two touchdowns in his second game with his new team. The former Tiger finished the season with 56 receptions for 610 yards and five touchdowns.
Hopkins looks to add to his already solid postseason career with an average of 74.3 yards per game in a six-game span.
The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a first-round bye and will face the Houston Texans on Saturday.
Nate Wiggins, cornerback | Baltimore Ravens
As a first-round pick going into his rookie season, Wiggins got held to high standards. The former standout cornerback for Clemson was expected to contribute right away to the Super Bowl-contending Ravens.
The 6-foot-1 defensive back did just that as he recorded six tackles, one pass deflection and a forced fumble within his first three games while playing limited snaps. He continued his stellar rookie campaign, finishing with 33 tackles, 13 pass deflections, one forced fumble and one interception that he took back for a 26-yard touchdown.
Wiggins and the Ravens will face off against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
D.J. Reader, defensive tackle | Detroit Lions
As the Lions look to make their second consecutive deep playoff run, Reader has exceeded expectations in his first year with the team after signing a two-year, $22 million contract in the offseason.
The 2016 fifth-round pick has been dominant in the trenches, recording 23 tackles, eight QB hits, four tackles for a loss, one pass deflection and a career-high three sacks.
The Detroit Lions will match up against the Washington Commanders in the divisional round on Saturday.
