Following his 2023 freshman All-American campaign at defensive tackle, Clemson’s Peter Woods made the transition to defensive end this season.
However, the talented and versatile sophomore has slid back inside and played a lot on the interior defensive line of late. After starting seven games at defensive end, Woods moved back to defensive tackle at Pitt on Nov. 16, when he collected three tackles (1.0 for loss) and 1.0 sack (on two half-sacks) against the Panthers.
Clemson defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin met with the media on Monday ahead of the 12th-seeded Tigers’ College Football Playoff first-round game at Texas this Saturday (4 p.m. ET, TNT/Max).
Goodwin explained what led to Woods moving from the edge back inside to DT, with Goodwin pointing to a couple of contributing factors – including injuries on the interior D-line, as well as the progress of a trio of Clemson defensive ends in redshirt sophomore Jahiem Lawson, sophomore A.J. Hoffler and redshirt junior Cade Denhoff.
“I think having some guys banged up, but also just the growth of our young defensive ends as well,” Goodwin said. “Jaheim, A.J., Cade – those guys have gotten better throughout the year, and just feeling more confident with those guys in the game and just sliding Peter back inside.”
This season, Woods has tallied 24 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble and five quarterback pressures. The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder has missed three games this season due to injuries. He suffered a leg injury after getting chop-blocked during the Appalachian State game on Sept. 7, and then sustained a head injury after taking a shot to the head in the game vs. Louisville on Nov. 2.