Peter Woods is a 6’2, 298-pound defensive lineman from Clemson University. From 2019 to 2022, he went to Thompson High School. He led Thompson to four straight 7A State Championships and a 50-5 career record. He finished his high school career with 260 tackles, 72 tackles for loss, and 29.5 sacks. As a senior, he finished with 90 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks. In 2022, he was named a 1st Team All-American by MaxPreps and Player of the Year in Alabama. Peter went on to play college ball at Clemson University, where he got reps at nose tackle, defensive tackle (3 tech), defensive end, and even fullback. He is willing to do whatever the team needs.
In 2023, Peter played in 12 games (started 2). In 307 defensive snaps, he finished his freshman season with 27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 10 quarterback pressures. He was named a freshman All-American by 247 Sports, FWAA, On3, College Football News, College Football Network, and PFF. In 2024, he played in 11 games (started 10). In 391 defensive snaps, he finished his sophomore season with 32 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. In 2025, he started all 12 games playing in 554 defensive snaps. As a junior, he finished with 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 2 pass breakups. His snap count increased over time with a heavy workload. It was his production, effort, and competitive toughness that led to him being 1st Team All-ACC.
Peter is currently under 300 pounds. He lost 12-15 pounds going into the draft to get faster. He has 31 ¼ inch arms and 9 ⅛ inch hands. He still maintains a good frame despite having shorter arms. He has lateral quickness and explosiveness in his hips and lower half. He displays raw power with his hand placement, block shedding, and deflections. When he has a good get off, he is able to get his hands across the offensive lineman’s face and attack either shoulder.
Peter has a quick rip technique. He can also bull rush out of 2 and 3-point stances. He maintains leverage as long as his hands and feet are sturdy. If he has to change direction, he can lose his balance. But he still puts in effort, chasing down running backs and receivers to get to the second level. He needs to diversify his pass-rushing abilities if he wants to be on the field during 3rd down. In his 2025 games against LSU, Georgia Tech, and Louisville, he didn’t use a reliable pass-rush move to immediately penetrate. He also lacks quick twitch and bend. He would’ve had a sack against Georgia Tech if he dipped around left guard Joe Fusile. While he split time (2024) at defensive tackle and defensive end in the 4-2-5 defense, he is more of a force in the middle of the defensive line stopping the run.
As a space eater, Peter will command double teams, even triple teams at times. He has a good feel for recognizing them and shooting through gaps. If the offensive tackle and guard have too big of a gap between them, he will quickly split them and make a play in the backfield. He can take unnecessary chances in his slant stunts and leave himself vulnerable against outside runs, but he is still capable of shedding blocks. He could be more technical with his tackling against the run. There are times when he relies on pure strength to bring down the ball carrier instead of trusting his fundamentals. He also has some trouble keeping up with the quarterback run. Despite some deficiencies, Peter remains a brawler at nose tackle and 3 tech.
Scheme and Team Fit:
Peter will be most successful playing in an even front with 4 down linemen. He doesn’t need to go to a team that blitzes a lot, but one that emphasizes stopping the run. The Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Arizona Cardinals are the best fits for Peter. They all play in a 4-3 system that allows them to average over 100 rushing yards per game.
NFL Player Comp: Linval Joseph, Dallas Cowboys
While their traits aren’t identical, they both had similar arcs and play styles in college. Linval was an immediate impact player at East Carolina University. He, like Peter, didn’t have a lot of pass-rushing moves. However, his strength to take on double teams and fight off blocks made him a day 2 selection in the NFL Draft.
Projection: League Average Starter
While I don’t see Peter as an immediate impact player, he will be a proven starter within three years.
Grade and Round Projection: 5.2, Late 1st Round – Early 2nd Round Pick
I gave Peter a 5.2 grade with a curve (4.2 initial), projecting him as a late first or early second round pick of the NFL Draft.
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