Clemson football recruiting: Tigers snag Peter Woods away from Nick Saban, Crimson Tide

The long-awaited announcement from 5-star defensive lineman Peter Woods arrived on Friday, and Clemson football got good news.

Woods announced his verbal commitment to Coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers.

Woods is the No. 23 overall player in the Class of 2023 per the 247 Composite. He is the No. 3 defensive lineman nationally. He is getting ready to begin his senior season at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama. He ranks as the 4th best player from the state of Alabama.

The consensus among the recruiting analysts had framed this recruitment coming down to Alabama and Clemson. Two of the top 3 players in the state had already committed to the Crimson Tide, so many felt this was their battle to win. Clemson hosted Woods at the beginning of June for an official visit alongside several other defensive line prospects from the 2023 class.

Woods’ Hudl tape demonstrates why he is such a coveted prospect. He lines us at both defensive end and defensive tackle. He impresses with his speed off the corner, but also shows strength rushing up the middle to disrupt the offensive line. This fits with comments I have seen comparing Woods favorably with Christian Wilkins, who spent time at both end and tackle.

247 Sports acknowledges this versatility in his high school film and notes he could move towards either position in college:

"“Tweener frame, position projection will be dictated by growth potential. Displays good athletic ability across multiple positions on the defensive line. Shows the ability to play in a two-point stance in an edge role and with his hand on the ground in multiple defensive fronts. Quick twitch explosive athlete with an excellent first step off the line of scrimmage. Displays a natural ability to bend the edge and shows the ability to go speed to power. Exhibits good play strength at point of attack and shows the ability anchor as a run defender. Possesses excellent run and chase ability with the ability to close space quickly.”"

Peter Woods is the highest-rated player in the 2023 class for Clemson football

Rivals projects Woods as a defensive end. At 6′-4″ and 265 pounds, he would be physically ready to play immediately as an end. If defensive tackle is his future, then he would likely need to add weight to be able to anchor a college line. My concern would be if adding weight could disrupt his speed. If I were making the plans for Clemson, I would put Woods at defensive end and give him the chance to compete for playing time immediately. The Tigers might be losing four ends after the 2022 season; the incoming freshmen in 2023 will have their chance to prove they belong on the field.

It is also possible future commitments on the defensive line could influence Woods’ position in college. 4-star prospect Hunter Osborne is also a target for Clemson. Osborne plans to announce in August, and he is also someone who isn’t locked into a specific college position yet. If Osborne makes more sense at end, Woods could move to tackle.