Five-Star Defensive End Peter Woods makes it official, signs with Clemson
★★★★★ | Peter Woods 6’4, 263 | Thompson High School, Alabaster, Alabama
Peter Woods is ESPN’s No. 9 overall prospect who signed following a dominant performance in the Alabama vs. Mississippi All-Star Game.
Rankings: Ranked by ESPN.com as one of the nation’s top 10 players regardless of position by ESPN, the highest ranking of any member of Clemson’s 2023 recruiting class … ESPN ranked him No. 9 overall and as the best defensive tackle in the nation … also listed by ESPN as the second-best player in Alabama … ranked 14th in Sports Illustrated’s SI99 for 2023 … listed by PrepStar as the nation’s No. 27 overall player and as a five-star prospect … ranked No. 59 overall player by 247Sports, which also ranked him as the seventh-best player in Alabama and eighth-best defensive tackle … ranked No. 48 overall player by On3, which listed him as the seventh-best player in Alabama and seventh-best among defensive tackles … ranked No. 54 overall by Rivals, as well as the eighth-best player in Alabama and fifth-best defensive tackle in the nation … ranked among the top 35 in composite rankings compiled by both 247Sports and On3.
In High School: Led Thompson to four straight 7A State Championships (2019-22), first team in Alabama to win four straight state titles since Hoover in the early 2000s … team compiled a 50-5 record in his four years … 2022 MaxPreps first-team All-American and Alabama Player of the Year … finished his high school career with 260 tackles, 72 tackles for loss and 29.5 sacks … recorded 90 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a senior despite being double-teamed the entire season … notched eight tackles (including three for loss) in state championship win over Auburn … had eight tackles and two sacks in state semifinal against Hoover … posted four tackles for loss each against Hewitt-Trussville and Vestavia Hills … as a junior in 2021, credited with 92 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 11 sacks … had career high five tackles for loss vs. Hoover in 2021 … notched 12 tackles, a fumble recovery and a 45-yard interception return for the lone touchdown of his career against Vestavia HIlls … had 11 sacks for the year in 11 different games … had 30 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2020 despite being limited by injury to only four games … posted at least one tackle for loss in every game that year … totaled 54 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a freshman, including four tackles for loss against Florence … invited to All-America Classic in Orlando … earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Alabama vs. Mississippi All-Star Game, leading Alabama team with eight tackles, including seven tackles for loss with two sacks … wore No. 11 for coach Mark Freeman at Thompson.
Personal: Committed to Clemson on July 8, 2022 … born March 5, 2005 … expected to enroll at Clemson in January 2023.
Our Take:
Luke Winstel
In August 2022, in the Freedom Bowl at Milton High School (Ga.), I got my first in-person look at Woods when his Thompson (Ala.) team took on Buford (Ga.). He looked nearly unblockable and made spectacular plays in the backfield. Woods’ speed separates him, alongside his ability to shed blocks quickly. It was clear why he was one of the most sought-after prospects in America.
The five-star was disruptive and helped keep Buford’s potent run game quiet in the first half. On some plays, he matched up against LSU OL commit Paul Mubenga and still found ways to impact the game.
Despite his team losing 38-7, Woods’ effort impressed many nationwide. He also earned the respect of Buford running back Justice Haynes, a four-star Alabama commit. Following the game, Haynes told Touchdown Alabama Magazine Recruiting Analyst Justin Smith, “The best defense I played in my life. Peter (Woods) is a grown man.”
Multiple Buford coaches told me postgame that “number 11” (Peter Woods) was exactly as advertised, if not better. A high school coach told me this season that Woods was among the best defensive lineman he’s coached against at the high school level.
In the first 12 games of his senior season, Woods had 21 TFLs and eight sacks.
Morgan Thomas - Physically imposing on DL. Athletic enough to play Edge. Can chase down outside runs despite size. Thick lower body. Multiple power and agility moves. Active hands. Full body leverage - get off skill. Commands double teams. Strong versus pass rush and run stopping. Can maintain gaps push through blockers. Gets through OL at will.