Peter Woods Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Cory Knowlton/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
School: Clemson
Class: Junior
Position: DT
HT: 6’3
WT: 315 lbs
Background: Peter Woods was a high 4-star defensive lineman in the class of 2023 out of Alabaster, Alabama. Woods helped lead Thompson High School to four straight state titles. He was a 2022 MaxPreps All-American and Alabama Player of the Year. Over his career for Thompson, he totaled 72 TFLs. He was named the MVP of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game as a senior. Peter Woods committed to Clemson over Auburn, Alabama, LSU, and others.
College: He was named a Freshman All-American by numerous outlets in 2023 after posting 27 tackles and 2.5 TFLs. In 2024, he showed off his versatility by playing both on the edge and the interior. As a sophomore, he posted 32 tackles and 8.5 TFLs, earning All-ACC honorable mention. As a junior in 2025, Woods was a First Team All-ACC selection with 30 tackles and 3.5 TFLs.
Strengths: Peter Woods is the perfect blend of size and speed for a defensive tackle. His speed pays dividends in the pass rush. He gets to the quarterback at an alarmingly high rate for the position. Woods is not just on the interior to stop the run, he gets after the quarterback. He has the footspeed and lateral agility to work his way through gaps and be a constant presence in the backfield. He can cut on a dime at the line of scrimmage to monitor misdirection and react to angle blocks on the fly. He sheds blocks with such ease. He does not just rely on a hand chop to deconstruct blocks, but has a variety of options at his disposal to get free. He has a strong upper half that allows him to stab at offensive linemen with serious force, often knocking them off their anchor.
Weaknesses: While Peter has all the tools to be an elite interior pass rusher, that aspect of his game is still pretty raw. He relies more on natural ability, size, and athleticism rather than having a reliable pass rushing plan. Woods is a strong player, but he doesn’t get low enough in his rush. He tends to get uprooted and taken off his rush. Woods also tends to leave meat on the bone in the backfield. He is not an elite finisher and can often let ball carriers off the hook by lunging or getting off balance.
Conclusion: Peter Woods is the perfect balance of size and speed for a defensive tackle. He can develop into an elite pass rusher on the interior while also being a run stuffer. Expect Woods to get a high snap share immediately as he can contribute in all aspects of the game. If he can play lower consistently, it is hard to see how anyone can keep him out of the backfield for a full 60 minutes.
Best Team Fits: DET, ARI, CAR
Player Comparison: Quinnen Williams
Player Grade: Round 1 (94.8)
