Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods took to the microphone on Friday to give an inside look at what’s been happening behind the scenes with the highly anticipated, revamped defense.
Woods began by talking about losing 20 pounds this offseason, recalling that he played a season weighing 320 pounds. “Me personally, I think that was too heavy,” Woods said. “I think towards the end of the season, after I got back from injury, I saw like 330, and that just definitely wasn’t where I was supposed to be at all.”
When asked if he feels like his quickness and agility was back, Woods replied with “100%.”
Clemson picked up defensive edge Will Heldt from Purdue this offseason, a player Woods is eager to bring to the team. “I’m super excited about Will,” Woods said. “Even off the field, he brings a lot of fire, a lot of leadership—another leadership component to this defense full of leaders.”
“He’s already like a brother to me. I’m just super excited to get to play with him and I’m excited for y’all to see his stuff that I’ve been seeing.”
Another addition that has Clemson fans excited is former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Allen, whose defense at Penn State ranked seventh nationally in total defense, signed a three-year contract in January.
“I love Coach Allen,” Woods said. “I tell everyone who asks me, I’d run through a wall for that man. He just brings so much energy to the defense. He’s a challenger.”
Peter Woods
Clemson also added former Alabama linebacker Jeremiah Alexander from the transfer portal, a player Woods has known since before high school.
“Obviously perfectly,” Woods said on how Alexander fits into the culture. “Much like the Will situation, I feel like we hit the jackpot. The team chemistry, everything feels like they’ve been here for three or four years.”
With the new additions from the transfer portal and their new defensive coordinator in Allen, Clemson’s defense is poised to act as a brick wall in the upcoming season.
