Wiggins on his time at Georgia, and Pruitt
ATHENS – The perception is that Shaq Wiggins left Georgia last year because his personality clashed with defensive coordinator. Wiggins, a promising cornerback, fed the idea with the statement he made after deciding to transfer.
But Wiggins, preparing to begin his Louisville career, sought to clarify that on Saturday, telling the Louisville Courier-Journal that, among other things, he likes Pruitt.
“There’s still some things that need to be cleared up about that,” Wiggins said. “I didn’t get kicked out. I didn’t get dismissed. I didn’t have any issues. That was my decision, me and my family’s decision. I just thought that would be best for me and my college career. … A new start and just to feel free. I saw in the media a couple of times where I transferred because I wanted someone to embrace my personality. I mean, even if one day God blesses me to go to the league, I just can’t get up and leave from an NFL team. People embrace my personality. People either like you or they don’t like you. That’s just how the world is. That really doesn’t bother me.”
So did the defensive coaching change at UGA have something to do with it?
“I would say just a tad bit,” Wiggins said. “But Coach Jeremy Pruitt, he’s a great coach. I liked Coach Pruitt. We had plenty of conversations while I was at Georgia. So it wasn’t just the coaching change. It was just the whole thing all at once, the university. I felt like I just had to move on and become more focused … with something that would make me more comfortable.
“I’m very comfortable here. I’m blessed to be at Louisville. I think it was a great decision that I made.”
Wiggins spoke with the Courier-Journal’s Gentry Estes, a Georgia beat writer from 2010-15.
Josh Harvey-Clemons also ended up at Louisville and is set to begin his Louisville career this season. Both Harvey-Clemons and Wiggins had to sit out a season, and ended up at Louisville under defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, whose departure from Georgia resulted in Pruitt’s hiring.
The story, which again you can read at this link, features thoughts from all three ex-Bulldogs now in Louisville. The Cardinals open the season against Auburn.
