Sportsvival continues its deep dive into the rising stars shaping the 2026 NFL Draft landscape, turning its attention today to one of the most disruptive interior defenders in the country. Clemson’s Peter Woods has emerged as a force in the middle of the Tigers’ defensive front, pairing raw power with refined technique and rare athleticism for a player of his size. With his blend of explosiveness, leverage, and versatility, Woods has developed into one of college football’s most feared defensive linemen and a premier early-round prospect.
Background and Recruit Profile
High school: Thompson High School (Alabaster, AL); five-star recruit and consensus top-10 national prospect in the 2023 class.
Recruitment: Chose Clemson over Alabama, Georgia, and Auburn in one of the most closely watched recruiting battles of his cycle.
Early trajectory: Made an immediate impact as a freshman rotational lineman before ascending into a full-time starter and defensive centerpiece. Woods’ rapid development, motor, and advanced hand usage positioned him early as a future multi-year All-ACC performer and potential first-round draft pick.
Physical Profile and Measurables
Height and weight: 6 ft 3 in; 315 lbs
Frame and build: Compact, powerful frame with exceptional density; carries mass efficiently with minimal bad weight.
Athletic traits: Explosive first step, elite play strength, and impressive short-area quickness. Shows unusual flexibility for a big interior defender, enabling him to corner and redirect with fluidity. Strong lateral movement allows him to penetrate gaps and disrupt plays before they develop.
College Career and Production
2023
Games Played / Starts: 14 / 0
Honors: ACC All-Freshman Team
Stats: 26 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks
2024
Games Played / Starts: 13 / 13
Honors: Second-Team All-ACC
Stats: 47 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble
2025 (as of 11-15-25)
Games Played / Starts: 10 / 10
Stats: 39 tackles, 11.0 TFL, 5.5 sacks
Woods is in the midst of his most dominant season yet, showcasing increased pass-rush refinement and consistently commanding double teams.
Strengths
Power at the point of attack: Generates tremendous knock-back with his initial strike. Controls blocks with heavy hands and excellent leverage.
Interior penetration: Outstanding first-step quickness for a 315-pound defender. Frequently wins gaps before offensive linemen can set their base.
Hand technique and counter moves: Violent, efficient hands with the ability to stack, shed, and reset. Shows advanced club-rip, forklift, and long-arm counters.
Versatility: Effective across multiple alignments—can play nose, 3-tech, or 4i—without sacrificing impact.
Motor and competitiveness: Relentless on second-effort plays; rarely stays blocked and consistently chases down screens and outside runs.
Football IQ: Diagnoses blocking schemes quickly; reads backfield action and maintains gap integrity. Shows leadership traits along the defensive front.
Weaknesses
Pad level during extended drives: Can rise out of leverage late in long series, allowing linemen to anchor more effectively.
Range in pursuit: While explosive in tight spaces, his long speed limits him from running down some perimeter plays.
Rush lane discipline: At times gets overeager to penetrate, occasionally creating escape lanes for mobile quarterbacks.
Draft Profile
Draft projection: Firm first-round prospect with increasing buzz as a top-15 candidate. One of the safest defensive line evaluations in the 2026 class.
Role projection: Day-1 starter at defensive tackle, ideally as a disruptive 3-tech or hybrid interior defender in a one-gap or attacking front.
Ceiling and floor:
Floor: High-level, multi-year starting interior lineman with above-average run defense and reliable pocket disruption.
Ceiling: A game-wrecking All-Pro–caliber defensive tackle capable of commanding double teams and anchoring an elite NFL front seven.
Pro Comparison
Primary comparison: Christian Wilkins (Miami Dolphins) — similar compact build, explosiveness, and relentless play style. Like Wilkins, Woods has the athletic twitch, power, and technique to impact all three downs and elevate the energy of an entire defensive unit. Sportsvival can see Woods grow into a Wilkins type disruptor.
Sportsvival View
Sportsvival views Peter Woods as one of the most complete defensive linemen in the 2026 draft class. His year-to-year growth, disruptive production, and refined technique give him one of the highest floors among interior defenders. If he continues on his current trajectory, Woods could cement himself as the top defensive tackle in the class and a strong contender for a top-10 selection. His blend of power, urgency, and polish makes him a scheme-proof prospect with immediate NFL impact potential.