Who is Clemson’s Peter Woods? Meet Tigers’ ‘generational talent’ on defensive line

It took only three series in Clemson’s season-opening football game at Duke on Monday night for freshman defensive lineman Peter Woods to make his presence felt.

Lining up at defensive tackle, Woods notched his first quarterback pressure, forcing Duke quarterback Riley Leonard into an errant throw.

Woods is considered a “generational talent,” according to the ESPN broadcast, citing sources inside the Clemson program.

Here are five things to know about the Tigers’ premier recruit in the 2023 class:

Peter Woods from same neck of the woods as Dabo Swinney

Woods played at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama. Alabaster is located a short 10-minute drive down Highway 31 from Pelham – the hometown of Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney. Woods is one of 15 players on the Tigers’ roster from Alabama.

Peter Woods’ high school coach: ‘He could’ve played anywhere’

Thompson High football coach Mark Freeman promoted Woods to Thompson’s varsity squad as an eighth-grader. “Peter was dominant at the middle school the whole year, so when their season was over we brought him up,” Freeman said. Woods moved into the starting lineup as a freshman and helped Thompson to four consecutive state championships.

“He was always on the defensive front – end, tackle, nose, somewhere in there, but he could’ve played anywhere,” Freeman said. “He could’ve played H-back or middle linebacker, too. Every now and then that type of kid comes along.”

Peter Woods thrived vs. top competition

Woods was named Most Valuable Player in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game in December 2022, leading Alabama with eight tackles, including seven tackles for loss, and two sacks.

Then, in the Under Armor All-American Game in January, Woods starred again, contributing three tackles, including two for lost yardage, while also breaking up a pass that led to an interception.

Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) with Clemson defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin during the first practice at Clemson, S.C. Friday, August 4, 2023.

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Peter Woods blossomed for Clemson in the spring

Woods wasted little time in flashing his potential after arriving at Clemson as a midyear enrollee. The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder shined during spring practices, then capped his effort with an impressive performance in the spring game, tying the game high with seven tackles, including a sack, and blocking a PAT. Said Swinney: “He’s a dude. He’s grown. You’re going to see him early and often.”

Peter Woods has an impressive singing voice, too

Woods possesses quite the singing voice, obviously honed and enhanced by his time spent in church. Woods, whose father is a minister, sang at a player-led church service at Clemson in August along with teammate Blackmon Huckabee Jr. That church upbringing helped keep Woods on a straight and narrow path. “He’s a pleaser,” Freeman said. “Never a day in his life has he been in trouble or around trouble.”

Scott Keepfer covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at skeepfer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ScottKeepfer

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Peter Woods: Meet Clemson football’s ‘generational’ defensive lineman