From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Clemson DL Peter Woods.
No. 11 Peter Woods/DL Clemson, 6030, 315 pounds (Third-year Junior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Peter Woods 6030/315 N/A N/A N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
The Good
– Top-notch athlete that looks like he was built in a lab
– His size provides a squatty build that grants a natural leverage advantage
– Explosive lower body that generates tremendous strength
– Quick initial step that converts speed-to-power
– Good lateral agility that lets him flow down the line of scrimmage against the run
– Shows good hand fighting with his pass rush (swim move, swipe move)
– Wins with power and finesse
– His leverage generates enough torque to toss a lineman with his stack and shed
– Played multiple positions on the defensive line
The Bad
– Shorter arm length that can get swallowed up by bigger tackles
– Fluctuated his playing weight (played at 330 pounds in 2024)
– Struggles with countering after the initial move stalls
– Leaves gap integrity to chase individual stats
– Has issues finishing after collapsing the pocket
– Rises out of a stance, which mitigates his natural leverage advantage
– Tries to guess a play rather than flowing and reading the offense
Stats
– 2025 Stats: 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 14 pressures
– Career Stats: 84 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 44 pressures
– Played in 25 career games
Injury History
– Missed 8 of 14 games during sophomore season due to leg injury (2020)
– Suffered a lower leg injury and was seen in a walking boot prior to game against Miami (2023)
– Dealt with a leg injury after getting chop-blocked and missed 3 games (2024)
– Suffered a concussion that caused him to miss another game (2024)
Background
– Born March 5th, 2005 (20 years old)
– Started on varsity as a freshman at Thompson High School
– Helped Thompson win four consecutive 7A state championships and a 50-5 record
– Played in a state championship as an eighth grader
– Consensus 5-star recruit, first team All-American, and MaxPreps Player of the Year (2022)
– Committed to Clemson for the culture of “accountability” and their high retention and graduation rate
– Freshman All-American (2023) and second team All-American (2025)
– No. 5 on Bruce Feldman’s “Freak’s List” with 700 lbs squat, 385 lbs power clean, and 4.85 40-yd dash
– Gained around 20 lbs while recovering from his injury (2024), but shed his weight to 315 prior to the season
– Hosted free youth camp at former high school (2025)
– 240 lbs of his frame is lean muscle mass
– Graduated in less than 3 years with a degree in sports communication
– Believes leadership is about “action” and not a “title”
– Held a team bonding at Lake Keowee with Clemson teammates
Tape Breakdown
Woods has been a highly lauded athlete since his days at Thompson High School. Although the production hasn’t always shown up on the stat sheet, his presence is evident in both the pass and run games. His ability to collapse the pocket begins with the lightning-quick first step that puts him ahead of his matchup instantly.
He’s not only a pure athlete; he also has some refinement to his game. It’d be ideal if he could develop some counters when his initial shed attempt fails, but that will come with experience. As a pass rusher, he provides flexibility in how he wins, whether it is with finesse or power. He has demonstrated an effective swim technique and can also sweep away his opponent’s hands. There is a good hand fight in his game.
There’s still room for him to grow as a pass rusher and develop more consistency in that department, but he will be a disruptive force from Day 1. He’s more polished in his run defense, using his immense frame to eat up blocks and free space for his teammates.
But he’s not only a space eater. He also moves laterally and closes on the ball carrier with tenacity, despite carrying a 315-pound frame. His most effective technique when engaged with a blocker is the stack-and-shed, in which he can throw linemen out of the play with the power derived from his torque.
The facet of his game that requires the most development is his ability to finish plays. There were many reasons for his decline in production during the past season, including a change in defensive scheme, but he left plays on the field through his missed tackles.
Conclusion
Overall, I entered with high expectations for Woods, and he exceeded them. He has the athletic traits to be a dominant interior lineman in the NFL, owing to his explosiveness and power. If he had finished more plays that he wreaked havoc on, he’d be touted as an unquestioned top 10 selection.
There are several concerns that must be addressed, including his playing weight. He played most of the 2024 season at 330 lbs while recovering from his injury, but shed some weight prior to 2025 and regained the twitch in his step. His arm length also appears to be a concern on film. Without verified measurements, it’s difficult to know, but his arm length appears to limit his ability to shed linemen when they engage.
Ideally, Woods gets drafted to a team that will deploy him as a 3-tech that will maximize his initial burst and power to win 1-on-1 against interior linemen. Although more of a polished product coming out of school, he has similarities to Javon Hargrave and former Clemson star Grady Jarrett. All three address physical limitations but deliver explosive takeoffs with strong squatting power that lead to gap penetration. Placed in the right spot, Woods has the potential to be a perennial Pro Bowler.
NFL Draft Projection: Early – Mid Day 1
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 8.9 MED (Long-time Starter)
Grade Range: 8.6 – 9.2
Games Watched: @ Wake Forest (2024), vs. LSU (2025), @ Boston College (2025), vs. Duke (2025)
Recommended for you