This Clemson Tigers star has landed himself a major NFL comparison heading into the draft.
The Clemson Tigers have quite a few defensive players who could ultimately be off the board early in the 2026 NFL Draft, but none are more notable than defensive tackle Peter Woods.
Woods is widely viewed as the best interior defensive lineman in this upcoming class, and some feel he could even be a top-five pick come April.
The 20-year-old actually has not been quite as dominant as most anticipated this season, as he has logged 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a couple of sacks in 10 games.
However, Woods' potential is undeniable, and Bleacher Report's Matt Holder has gone as far to compare him to Tennessee Titans star Jeffery Simmons.
Simmons is one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL and has already made three Pro Bowl appearances since entering the league in 2019. He appears to be on his way to a fourth this season, as he has logged 33 tackles and 5.5 sacks in eight games.
Woods is not quite the pass rusher that Simmons is just yet, but Holder feels that the Clemson standout could eventually develop into one.
Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Peter Woods. Credit: Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images."Has the combination of power and movement skills to develop into a quality pass-rusher down the line," Holder wrote.
The junior defender has amassed a grand total of five sacks throughout his collegiate career, but that doesn't necessarily mean he can't turn into a good pass rusher on the professional level.
Woods arrived at Clemson in 2023 and managed 26 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss during his freshman campaign. He followed that up by posting 28 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks last year.
As you can see, Woods has actually regressed just a bit this season, but that almost surely won't deter teams from zeroing in on him on Day 1 in the spring, especially given his versatility.
"Good size with impressive movement skills and quickness for a defensive tackle," Holder added in his Woods scouting report. "Plenty of upper body strength and pop in his hands to stand up offensive linemen and gain control of the block. Also is quick to shoot his hands and keeps his hands tight to protect his chest."
We'll see where Woods ends up come draft time.