2023 DL Peter Woods reprises his Elite Junior Day journey with All Clemsons.
Clemson recently held its annual Elite Junior Day, with some top targets in the 2023 recruiting class.
Some of the country's top defensive linemen were in attendance, including blue-chip prospect Peter Woods. The SI All-American candidate from Thompson High in Alabaster, Alabama, is not only considered one of the nation's five best defensive linemen, but he is also one of the nation's top players, regardless of position.
Woods has been on campus several times since last summer, including visiting Boston College and last season for victories over Florida State, and the 6-foot-3, 259-pound player told All Clemson there was a thing. What really set Dabo Swinney's program apart. from all others.
"The only difference between Clemson and many other places is the family atmosphere they create," said Woolds. “Everyone is like family, blood or not, and as culture coach Swine set in, everyone on the program bought in.”
While Woods has toured on several occasions, this last meeting was a bit different. Clemson's coaching staff has seen a big change since the last time the highly renowned defensive lineman was on campus. Brent Venables and Todd Bates, two of the program's best recruiters, are now in Oklahoma, replaced by Wes Goodwin and Nick Eason.
Woods was already very familiar with Eason, who had come to Clemson from Auburn. However, this was his first meeting with the Tigers' new defensive coordinator, Goodwin.
"Me and Coach Eason already had a great relationship when he was at Clemson, with him even before he was admitted to Auburn," Woods said. "It was my first time actually meeting and hanging out with Coach Goodwin, and in a few conversations I can tell he's a brilliant football mind and is going to bring a top defensive philosophy to Clemson."
Late last year, Woods named six of his finalists, with Clemson, Florida, Alabama, Oregon, Auburn and Georgia all making the cut. There's no fixed timeline for the decision to be made at this time, but Woods said it's something he's thought about and he'll know when the time is right.
"I don't really have a timeline set yet," he said. "I had ideas on when I want to commit, but it's really just God's time."
Right now, the main focus is on finding the right fit, which includes a coaching staff who not only develops him on the field, but can also help him grow off the field.
"I'm looking for a staff that I know will help me develop into the player and person I aspire to be," Woods said.