Wiggins learning fast

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Practice for the inaugural Offense-Defense Bowl kicked off on Sunday and future Miami Hurricane Doug Wiggins arrived just in time. He was planning to check in early Saturday night, but he wasn't able to make it until late that night. That put him behind, so he was learning on the run Sunday.

"Last night (Saturday), I had a family emergency, so I had to go up to Tampa," Wiggins, a four-star athlete from North Miami Beach, Fla., said.

"When I was coming back down last night, there was a fatal accident on I-75, so traffic was stooped for a few hours. I finally checked in around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night."

That late arrival put Wiggins behind schedule.

"This morning, I had to go back home, pick up my clothes, then I had to get my pads here," he said. "I got to practice right after practice had started. I got there, and they asked me where I wanted to play. I told them I wanted to play corner since I was playing that position at Miami. I just started learning on the run. He just told me the defense, and I had to learn quick from there."

Wiggins is excited about this week.

"I am just looking forward to going out there and learning this week," he said. "I want to learn as much as I can before I enter school on Jan. 16. I just plan on playing hard and having fun."

He talks about his strength at corner.

"I feel my biggest strength is playing aggressive," Wiggins said. "I feel most corners just like to corner, but I like to cover and hit. I like to get in there with the running backs and make some tackles. I come in there with a full head of steam and I like to stop them."

This future Cane said he didn't have time to make friends at practice.

"I was focused on learning the defense and learning my responsibilities," Wiggins said. "I was trying to learn as much as I could because I was already delayed and I missed the meeting Saturday night. I was just focused on learning the plays and learning the calls today, but I will now be able to get out and mingle with the guys at dinner."

Wiggins says he is a winner.

"Miami is getting a guy that wants to win and wants to turn the program around," he said. "I play hard, I work hard, and I love to win. I am a winner. I want to win this week and I want to win at Miami."