Dabo Swinney shores up the Tigers' depleted defensive line by beating out Florida State for Texas State transfer Devarrick Woods, adding critical size and depth for the fall.
The Clemson Tigers needed some help on the defensive line after West Georgia transfer Kourtney Kelly suffered a torn ACL in spring practice.
The Tigers needed some help in the trenches this offseason after losing Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, and DeMonte Capehart to the 2026 NFL Draft.
On Wednesday, the Tigers added a six-foot-three, 290-pound defensive lineman from the transfer portal. Via his Instagram, Devarrick Woods announced he was transferring from Texas State to Clemson.
Florida State was in the running to nab Woods, but he chose the Tigers over the Seminoles before trading camp.
Woods is a junior from Bossier City, LA. He recorded nine tackles and one sack for the Bobcats in 2025.
If Woods can develop into a better pass rusher at Clemson, the defense should take a critical step forward in the upcoming season. At the very least, Woods will add some much-needed competition on the defensive line this summer.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has suggested that the inability to run the football or stop the pass hurt his team last season. He believes the defense will be better at stopping the pass with an improved secondary.
"Secondary," Swinney told ESPN. "I mean, we were the worst pass defense I've had ever. Since I've been a head coach. And we still somehow won seven games. Just terrible. I just think we're much better in that area.”
"We improved in every defensive statistic except pass defense. We were horrible. If we can stay the course in Year 2 with Coach [Tom] Allen and what we're doing but improve in that area, then I think that makes a difference on the field and in close games."
The Tigers will enter the summer needing its coaching staff to put in good work to develop their roster. Clemson projects to be a bubble Top 25 team, and will need its defense to keep the team in games until new offensive coordinator Chad Morris gets his offense in rhythm.
Woods could be a rotational player for the defense, though he'll have a lot of work to do to get consistent playing time for Clemson this fall.