Getting your name called in the first round is special, but when a coaching legend like Andy Reid puts you in the same breath as Aaron Donald, you know you’ve reached rarefied air.
The moment Peter Woods heard his name at No. 29, Tiger Nation erupted—and so did the hype. Andy Reid wasted no time cranking up the expectations for our former Clemson wrecking ball, immediately drawing a line from Woods to one of the NFL’s all-time greats. When asked how Woods might fit next to All-Pro Chris Jones, Reid went straight for the gold standard.
“He has that ability inside... you can say Aaron Donald-y type quickness,” Reid told reporters. “He gives you a little bit of that [pass rush from the shortest distance to the quarterback], and we were looking for that.”
The "Unbelievable" Skill Set
If you’ve watched Peter Woods terrorize ACC offenses for the last three years, hearing his name next to Aaron Donald’s doesn’t sound crazy at all. Woods leaves Clemson as a proven winner and a physical freak—just ask Dabo, who saw it from the first snap.
“Peter Woods is just unique. He’s powerful, he’s fast, he’s twitchy, he’s unbelievably strong, he’s smart,” Swinney said. “Honestly, he’s probably a guy that could have made a team two years ago, so he’s going to fit right in day one and will be ready to compete.”
But Woods is still the same humble grinder we cheered for in Death Valley. He’s not letting the Hall of Fame talk go to his head. As Reid put it, he’s not Aaron Donald yet—but that’s the challenge in front of him.
“Well, he’s not Aaron Donald yet, right? That’s a good challenge for him,” Reid said. “But he has that ability inside, and you’re seeing, in the league now, guys that maybe aren’t the biggest guys, but they’re extremely quick and have great body control and can rush the passer.
“Shortest distance to the quarterback is those dudes right inside there? And so, he gives you a little bit of that, and we were looking for that, and he’s a great kid.”
Woods responded with the same mindset that made him a favorite in Tiger Town: “I feel like I am a guy on the rise. I am never satisfied and I am never going to be where I want to be.”
Clemson’s Defensive Tackle U Legacy Rolls On
Woods’ first-round call is just the latest proof that Clemson is still the gold standard for churning out NFL-ready defensive tackles. Since 2009, Dabo has sent a dozen DTs to the league—second only to Nick Saban. That’s a pipeline any program would envy.
Now Woods steps into a legendary Tiger brotherhood—think William “The Refrigerator” Perry, Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Bryan Bresee. And here’s a fun fact for the Clemson faithful: Woods and Bresee are the only Tigers ever picked at No. 29 overall.
Woods is about to suit up for the defending champs, joining a defense that’s made a habit of stealing stars late in the first round. If he lives up to even half the Aaron Donald hype, the rest of the AFC West better buckle up.
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