Tag: Peter Woods

Ranking Clemson FB players based on On3’s NIL evaluation

Eighteen Tigers have NIL evaluations in the six figures.

While Clemson hasn’t made the most noise in the name, image and likeness world, the school’s athletes have still taken advantage of the opportunity.

Clemson football players have been in the headlines recently because of their deals. Sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik signed a deal with Beats by Dre in August. Last month, running back Will Shipley partnered with Chipotle and had the downtown Clemson Chipotle location briefly named “Shipotle.”

Last updated on Wednesday, On3’s NIL evaluation algorithm uses a player’s national licensing and sponsorship market, as well as roster value, to calculate an estimated money amount for that player. Some of the college football players with the top evaluations include Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Texas’ Arch Manning and USC’s Caleb Williams.

That said, here are the top Clemson football players with the highest NIL evaluations based on On3’s algorithm:

Goodwin says Parker is ‘well beyond his years’

True freshman defensive end T.J. Parker leads Clemson in sacks and is fifth in total tackles.

Coming into the 2023 season, all eyes were on five-star defensive tackle Peter Woods to be the standout player in the Tigers’ 2023 recruiting class. And while Woods has played well, another true freshman has emerged as a difference maker for the Tigers on the defensive line.

Through six games, defensive end T.J. Parker leads Clemson in sacks with four and has the fifth most total tackles on the team with 19.

While Parker is just a true freshman and isn’t technically a starter, he has cemented himself among the Tigers’ best pass rushers, earning praise from defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin on Monday.

“You knew early on, even in January coming in, that he was kind of well beyond his years as far as football, understanding his technique and just his work ethic,” Goodwin said of Parker. “Just the type of young man that he is, really high character, great family, all of the above. But every week, he seems to get better and better and better.”

Parker had the best game of his young career against Syracuse in Week 5 when he had five tackles and two sacks. The performance earned him ACC Player of the Week honors, and he joined Myles Murphy, Dexter Lawrence and Corico Wright as the only Clemson freshmen in the Dabo Swinney era to record two sacks in a single game.

“He still needs to clean up some alignment issues and doing some small things better. But for the most part, he’s been really productive,” Goodwin added. “Heavy-handed, providing some good pass rush force up front and just brings great energy and demeanor, as well, on game day. He really understands how offenses attack. I’m super excited about the second half, seeing where he continues to improve and grow.”

A four-star recruit coming out of high school, Parker has been playing behind Xavier Thomas and Justin Mascoll. That said, his youth and inexperience haven’t stopped him from seeing significant snaps.

Mascoll had high praise for Parker when speaking to the media on Sept. 26, saying that Parker is much further along than where he was as a freshman.

“He’s just a hard worker, and he competes every day,” Mascoll said. “He definitely pushes me and XT every day to be better, and I just appreciate him so much. He’s kind of he’s come a long way. I mean, he came in the spring, but he’s made a major stride in his game as far as being a great pass rusher and playing the run well. And just his knowledge of the game was growing. You could just tell he knows a lot of football.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Three Tigers make ESPN’s Top 25 true freshmen, the most in college football

According to ESPN, Clemson leads the country with three top 25 true freshmen.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson coaching staff did a phenomenal job recruiting in the 2023 class, and we are seeing that translate on the field. 

Looking across the country, there have been a lot of standout freshmen this season. Year after year, we see freshmen burst onto the scene and make an immediate impact on their teams. Last season, we saw it in guys like Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins and Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams.

ESPN recently released an article ranking college football’s top 25 true freshmen ($$$) this season, with three Tigers players making the list. With three players on the rankings, Clemson has the most top true freshmen in the country. 

Here is a look at each of the three and what writer Tom Luginbill had to say about them.

5 Clemson players to watch closely in Duke opener

Here are 5 Clemson players to keep an eye on when the Tigers take on Duke Monday night.

With roughly 24 hours before Clemson kicks off its 2023 season against Duke, there are several players who will have a spotlight on them in the Week 1 contest.

Between a new offensive coordinator, a new opening-day starting quarterback and several other changes from last season, Clemson is one of the most interesting teams to pay attention to this fall. And it all starts with Monday’s matchup.

Here are five Clemson players to watch closely when the Tigers take on the Blue Devils at 8 p.m. ET on Monday.

Clemson’s Defensive X-Factor for Week 1 vs. Duke

This Clemson freshman could be in for a big Week 1 against the Blue Devils.

Clemson vs. Duke on Labor Day is shaping up to be one of the best Week 1 matchups of the season as Tigers and Blue Devils fans wait in anticipation for the start of their 2023 seasons. 

For our offensive x-factor, we chose the player that could make or break Clemson’s season. On the defensive side of the ball, we turn to a freshman defensive tackle who has the potential to be one of the best players in college football. 

If you haven’t guessed it yet, we are talking about defensive tackle Peter Woods. The No.1 ranked defensive player in the 2023 class according to ESPN’s recruiting rankings, Woods is expected to immediately impact the defensive line. 

A star in the Tigers’ spring game, Woods has done nothing but impress Clemson defensive line coach Nick Eason, who has recruited and developed some top-tier defensive linemen. 

“He hasn’t played a down yet, but I can tell you this — he definitely has the tools to be very dominant,” Eason said. “He has tools that I haven’t seen in a guy that just turned 18 years old.”

Watch out for Woods in 2023 as he breaks onto the scene and looks to dominate opposing offensive lines. 

Clemson defensive lineman named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List

Peter Woods is expected to have a big freshman season in 2023.

The Maxwell Football Club announced today that defensive tackle Peter Woods has been named as one of 37 candidates on the watch list for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding freshman. Additional information from the Maxwell Football Club is included below.

Visit the 2023 Preseason Honors hub for more preseason accolades garnered by Clemson.

The Maxwell Football Club today announced the watch list for the 6th annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award presented to the outstanding freshman player in college football. Once again, this year, the award will be presented at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala along with several of the other top awards in college and professional football.

The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award has been presented to the College Freshman Player of the Year since 2018 and is named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former standout at the University of Alabama and with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL. Past winners include; Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) – 2018, Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis)-2019 and Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) – 2020, Brock Bowers (Georgia) – 2021 and Drake Maye (North Carolina) 2022.

The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award watch list will incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast, with 37 candidates recognized. Texas leads the way with 4 candidates followed by Alabama and Oklahoma with 3 players each. Five other schools boast 2 candidates.

S Caleb Downs, Alabama
RB Justice Haynes, Alabama
OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
QB Jaden Rashada, Arizona State
TE Luke Hasz, Arkansas
DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
DT Peter Woods, Clemson
CB Cormani McClain, Colorado
WR Eugene Wilson, Florida
OT Earnest Greene, Georgia
ED Damon Wilson, Georgia
QB JJ Kohl, Iowa State
DB Javien Toviano, LSU
DE Rueben Bain, Miami
OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami
WR Kevin Concepcion, NC State
ED Princewill Umanmielen, Nebraska
WR Jaden Greathouse, Notre Dame
WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
ED Adepoju Adebawore, Oklahoma
DB Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma
DB Jasiah Wagoner, Oklahoma
LB Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
WR Ayden Williams, Ole Miss
LB Tony Rojas, Penn State
ATH Nyckoles Harbor, South Carolina
LB Grayson Howard, South Carolina
DL Markis Deal, TCU
LB Arion Carter, Tennessee
RB Cedric Baxter, Texas
WR Johntay Cook, Texas
CB Malik Muhammad, Texas
LB Anthony Hill, Texas
RB Rueben Owens, Texas A&M
QB Dante Moore, UCLA
WR Zachariah Branch, USC
LB Tackett Curtis, USC

ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB – The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. High school student-athletes around the country have an opportunity to participate in MFC Showcase events, free of charge, through the generosity of our corporate partners. To learn more about our story visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org.

ABOUT THE SHAUN ALEXANDER FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD – The Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football. Named after Shaun Alexander since 2018, this award recognizes the exceptional performance and impact made by these players on their respective teams throughout the season. The winning formula evaluates players based on Talent, Character, Ambassador and Legend.

Questions concerning the 2023 Shaun Alexander Award watch list can be directed to MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org or MFC Director of College Awards Rich Cirminiello rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org

-Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Athlon Sports ranks Clemson with the No.2 defensive line in college football

Clemson’s defensive line is once again one of the best in the country heading into the 2023 season.

The Clemson football program has developed into one of the best in college football, and the thing they are known for the most is the stellar defensive lines they produce year after year. 

Heading into the 2023 season, this won’t be changing as the Tigers once again have a talented defensive line unit that remains one of the best in the country. According to Athlon Sports’ College Football’s Top 15 Defensive Lines for 2023, The Tigers D-Line ranks No.2 in the country. 

The Tigers continue to churn out elite talent up front and seemingly have an annual spot at or near the top of the defensive lines in college football. Bryan Bresee departed to the NFL, but the interior remains stout with Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis. True freshman Peter Woods is also expected to see significant snaps in the middle. Restocking the edge to replace K.J. Henry and Myles Murphy (10 combined sacks) is a priority in fall practice. But coach Dabo Swinney’s group isn’t hurting for talent here. Xavier Thomas looks to close out his career on a high note after battling injuries over the last couple of years. Senior Justin Mascoll is expected to man the other end spot.

Not only did the Tigers return talent, they brought talent into the program. Freshman Peter Woods, in particular, could have a monster year at defensive tackle. He is expected to be an immediate impact player for Wes Goodwin’s defense.
Another year, another strong Clemson defensive line.
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Peter Woods makes ESPN’s preseason true freshman All-America team

Peter Woods is one of the best true freshmen in the country and could be in for a big season in 2023.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson coaching staff built a strong 2023 recruiting class, with highly touted defensive tackle Peter Woods being the coveted pickup in the class. 

The hype around Woods has been intense, with nothing but great things coming up about the young defensive tackle since he joined the program. Clemson has had some of the best defensive linemen in college football, with multiple performing at a high level right out of the gate. 

Woods has an opportunity to do the same, and the expectation is that he will do just that. ESPN recently released their preseason true freshman All-America team, with Woods making the team.

ESPN 300 ranking: No. 4

No matter how deep Clemson is up front — and the Tigers are loaded — Woods will make his mark. What makes him special is he can do what first-round draft pick Christian Wilkins did and play every spot along the front. He could get significant snaps each game while giving the rest of his linemates a break. This is the value of depth. Woods could end up more heralded than Dexter Lawrence, another Clemson first-rounder.

Of all the freshmen on Clemson’s roster, Woods is the one to look out for heading into the season. He projects to be a game breaker sooner rather than later for a stacked Clemson defense.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Where Peter Woods ranks in ESPN’s college football newcomer rankings

Peter Woods is among the top freshmen and transfers heading into the 2023 college football season.

ESPN did a unique batch of rankings recently, ranking the top 50 newcomers in college football ($). 

These rankings weren’t just for freshmen but also included players who have transferred to new teams for the 2023 season. Among these top 50 landed Clemson freshman Peter Woods, one of the top recruits in the 2023 class. 

According to these rankings, Woods is the No.33 overall newcomer. He ranked No.8 among freshen. Here is what writer Tom VanHaaren had to say about the new Tiger.

Woods was one of the most sought-after defensive linemen in the 2023 class. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound lineman had 90 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 8 sacks as a senior in high school. He finished his high school career with 260 tackles, 72 tackles for loss and 29.5 sacks. Woods played in the Clemson spring game and had seven tackles with one sack while playing on the first-team defense.

Expectations are high for Woods, who could be a top contributor for the Tigers in 2023. The defensive tackle was ranked as high as the No. 4 overall prospect in his class by ESPN, the highest of any defender in the class.

We can’t wait to see him on the field this season, as we might have another star on the Clemson defensive line.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Where Clemson ranks in 247Sports’ top 10 most talented defensive lines in 2023

Clemson’s defensive line has a ton of talent heading into the 2023 season.

The Clemson football program has been known for producing talent on defense, with the defensive line being the Tigers’ bread and butter. 

Year after year, Clemson’s defensive line is one of the best in the country, with talent and the depth needed to remain consistent. That shouldn’t change in 2023 with a Tigers’ defensive line that has a ton to prove and sky-high potential. 

247Sports recently released their rankings for the top 10 defensive lines in college football, with Clemson making the cut. Writer Brad Crawford slotted the Tigers into the No.9 ranking. Here is what Crawford had to say. 

Who to watch: Peter Woods, Xavier Thomas, Tyler Davis, Justin Mascoll

In terms of quality depth, Clemson has it this season in the trenches. The Tigers welcome back Davis, a first team All-ACC defensive lineman, expect heavy production from the five-star freshman Woods and now have a healthy Thomas back in the fold. Thomas only played 52 total snaps over three games last season with a foot injury and enters his final campaign with 116 career tackles (30.0 for loss), 14.5 sacks, five pass breakups and five forced fumbles. This is the second highest-rated pass rush unit in the ACC behind Florida State in these rankings, but could be No. 1 if Thomas and Woods provide notable production.

Clemson definitely has the potential to be the No.1 defensive line in the country, and I agree with Crawford on it coming down to Thomas and Woods. Two players with tremendous ceilings and the work ethic to make an impact.

It should be another excellent Clemson defensive line in 2023.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]