Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore remembers the exact moment when any questions he had about recruiting Jeremy Wiggins were answered. "The first thing I remember about Jeremy is the first day he practiced with us," Moore said. "We were putting new turf down, and we had to practice over on some intramural fields. It had rained, the field was sloppy and we had water standing everywhere. I remember him diving to intercept a ball. He just laid out to get that ball without much chance of catching it and wound up landing in a big puddle of water and mud. "I was impressed with that effort and it just reaffirmed what I said when we signed him: that we had us a great player." Wiggins, a former star at Northeast, has made good on Moore's assessment. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound safety is in his fourth season as a starter for the defending Division NCAA I-AA champions, who visit Georgia Southern on Saturday. While Wiggins has established himself as one of the top defensive backs in I-AA in earning first-team All-Southern Conference and third team All America honors last year, it's his character that Moore is most proud. "He is just a really, really good kid," said Moore, who paid his parents, John and Linda Wiggins the ultimate compliment. "He was raised right. I don't know of a time his parents haven't been at a ballgame. "I don't know how big his family is, but there's seven or eight of them at every game. They're there in the spring and at all the banquets. His mommy and daddy are good people. The best hugs I get after a game are from his mother." On track to graduate with a degree in graphic arts and imaging technology, Wiggins is one of the Mountaineers' captains. "He's been a big leader for us, even as a sophomore," the coach said. "He's a clutch player. He's done nothing but get better and better. He's one of our captains and a strong leader, not only on our football team, but on our campus. The players have tremendous respect for him. He's a great role model for college football." Wiggins has started all but one of 44 games in his career. This season the former All-Middle Georgia selection seeks to be the first Mountaineer to lead the team in tackles three times since former Dallas Cowboys standout Dexter Coakley did it four times (1993-96). He and Coakley are the only ones to do it as freshmen. It was literally by accident that Wiggins is in position to finish as one of the Mountaineers' all-time greats. Heavily recruited out of high school, Wiggins committed to Mississippi State, but found himself on the outside looking in when the Bulldogs chose to go in another direction as signing day approached. "When the deal with Mississippi State fell through me and my sister started sending out tapes," Wiggins recalled. "I didn't know anything about Appalachian, but we sent tapes up there and Coach Moore called and I went up there on a Sunday. "I'd never been to Boone (N.C.) and I wasn't sure if I could find my way back to Macon. I didn't even know what conference they were in, who they played. I was just looking for a chance to play football and get an education. Coach called me in on Monday and offered me a scholarship and I signed the papers." That's the only time Wiggins has been unsure of where he was headed. It has been a win-win situation for both he and the Mountaineers. There have been no regrets by either party, especially Wiggins. "I don't really think about what might've been at Mississippi State or any other school," said Wiggins, whose five interceptions this season lead the SoCon. "If I'd gone to Mississippi State, I would've sat out two years just waiting for a chance to play, and then in my third year I'd probably have gotten some special teams play. "Here, I started my first game. If I'd gone somewhere else I wouldn't be as good as or have the experience I have now. Plus, I've played on winning teams. I've played on a national championship team. You can't say enough about that." In his first two seasons, Wiggins recorded 90 and 84 tackles, respectively, but last year he had 134 including a career-high 15 against Kansas and 13 in App's 24-7 win against Georgia Southern that put it in position to win the SoCon title. He ranks second on the team so far this season with 47. The victory over the Eagles was a measure of sweet revenge for App, which had been embarrassed 54-7 the previous year in Statesboro. Afterwards several Southern players indicated they believed the Mountaineers, with the exception of Wiggins, had given up. "They just quit," said then-GSU quarterback Chaz Williams. "The only guy out there still playing was No. 8." For the record, Wiggins equaled a then career-high in tackles with 13 in that game. As a freshman, he had 10 tackles against GSU which offered him a partial scholarship to play either slotback or defensive back. In three games, against Southern he has 36 tackles. "It's been a great three years," Wiggins said of his time in Boone, N.C. "I want to finish out on a good note. I've met some really nice people up here, and I hope my last year is a really good one." As to what his football future may be it's anyone's guess, but Wiggins is hopeful of getting a shot at the NFL. "I want to go (to the NFL), but I have to keep working hard," said Wiggins, who's twice been named the league defensive player of the week in 2006. "I'd like to get a few more interceptions, and I should because I'm always around the ball. "I'd like to make all-conference and All-America and have someone take a look at me. I know I have talent, and the NFL will find you wherever you are." Said Moore: "He might have a shot if he has a big year, He has a pretty good-sized frame, and he's a good tackler. "He's been in big ball games. And, he's always staying out extra and working after practice." Contact Brown at mbrown8792@aol.com The Wiggins file Born: May 29, 1985 High school: Northeast College: Appalachian State Ht./wt.: 5-9/190 Position: Safety Major: Graphic arts/imaging technology 2006: Leads Southern Conference with five interceptions; ranks second on team with 47 tackles; twice named league's defensive player of the week; leads league with 46 return yards on two fumble recoveries. Career: Has started all but one of 44 games in his career and is vying to become only second player in school history to lead team in tackles for three seasons; totaled team-leading 90 as a freshman and 134 as a junior, and has 355 for his career along; has eight career interceptions; first-team All-SoCon and third-team All-American in 2005.