Tag: Peyton Woodyard

Elite California safety, parents ‘love’ Swinney, Clemson

An elite prospect at a familiar California high school powerhouse continues to hold high interest in Clemson and Dabo Swinney’s football program. Peyton Woodyard is one of the nation’s top safeties in the 2024 class and hails from St. John Bosco …

An elite prospect at a familiar California high school powerhouse continues to hold high interest in Clemson and Dabo Swinney’s football program.

Peyton Woodyard is one of the nation’s top safeties in the 2024 class and hails from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) – the same school that produced Clemson sophomore quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, as well as freshman wide receiver Beaux Collins.

Woodyard, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound sophomore, made his way to Tiger Town in June to tour the campus and facilities and compete at the Swinney Camp.

Woodyard hasn’t been contacted by Clemson’s staff since the visit due to the NCAA restrictions on communication between college football coaches and class of 2024 prospects. However, Woodyard knows he is on the recruiting radar of defensive coordinator Brent Venables and company after a strong camp showing this past summer.

“I haven’t heard anything from them, but I know they’re looking,” Woodyard told The Clemson Insider recently. “Coach Venables follows me on Twitter. I haven’t been able to talk to him ever since I’ve been up there, since this past summer. I definitely want to get back up there after this season and go on a visit.”

Woodyard doesn’t know if he will take part in the Swinney Camp again this coming summer but intends to at least get back on campus for an unofficial visit – and make the trip with his folks next time, after traveling to Clemson in June with his St. John Bosco teammate and 2023 five-star prospect Matayo Uiagalelei, D.J.’s younger brother.

“I’m not sure about camping this next time, but I definitely want to go up there for a visit,” Woodyard said. “I think it’ll just be a great thing to do. Also get my parents out there probably, get to see the campus.”

Woodyard and his parents are big fans of Swinney and his faith-based program.

“They love Clemson, especially because they’re a Christian-based school with Dabo Swinney,” Woodyard said. “My mom and dad are true Christians, and my mom loves Coach Dabo.”

Added Woodyard of what stands out to him about Swinney: “I’m a follower of God, too, and coach Dabo being a follower as well … and then the whole atmosphere there that he brings, the energy that Coach Dabo brings — you have to be there to know, you know.”

Woodyard is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 2 safety and No. 20 overall prospect in the 2024 class regardless of position. He has already racked up around 20 offers, including offers from schools such as Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Michigan, Southern Cal, Arizona State, Florida State and Penn State.

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Top Cali DB can see Swinney, Clemson ‘playing a big role’ in his recruitment

One top defensive back prospect firmly on Clemson’s future recruiting radar is Peyton Woodyard, who hails from a California high school powerhouse that has become connected to the Tigers. Woodyard, a talented and versatile 2024 recruit from St. John …

One top defensive back prospect firmly on Clemson’s future recruiting radar is Peyton Woodyard, who hails from a California high school powerhouse that has become connected to the Tigers.

Woodyard, a talented and versatile 2024 recruit from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) – the same school that produced Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and wide receiver Beaux Collins – traveled to Tiger Town this summer to tour the campus and facilities and compete at the Dabo Swinney Camp.

“Obviously the facilities are nice,” Woodyard said to The Clemson Insider recently, reflecting on the visit. “But definitely the coaching staff and how friendly and welcoming everyone was [stood out]. And Dabo Swinney, just the whole way he runs things over there, he runs a great team and it’s a great program you definitely want to be a part of when you’re at Clemson.”

While on campus, Woodyard spent plenty of time around the Tigers’ staff – primarily safeties coach Mickey Conn, cornerbacks coach Mike Reed and defensive coordinator Brent Venables – and impressed them with his camp performance.

The 6-foot-2, 188-pound rising sophomore is classified as a safety by 247Sports but prides himself on being a complete DB that can play all over the secondary from slot corner to free safety.

“They definitely like the way I play, how fast I am, my size and speed,” Woodyard said of the Tigers. “They were able to watch me line up at corner and inside at the slot position and guard the slot. They pretty much said if I wasn’t an incoming sophomore, I would have an offer there, and that’s why I’m really trying to show out this season and go head back up to Clemson.”

Obviously, playing at St. John Bosco, Woodyard is connected to the Uiagalelei family. He is friends with D.J.’s younger brother, 2023 five-star prospect Matayo Uiagalelei, and has had some opportunities to speak with D.J. in the past. Woodyard conversed with them when he visited Clemson in June.

As Woodyard alluded to, the Tigers refrain from offering sophomores, per Swinney’s policy. But he is certainly a candidate for an offer from Clemson in the future and envisions the Tigers being a major factor in his recruitment moving forward.

“It would mean a lot to me,” he said of a potential Clemson offer, “and I could see Clemson, Dabo playing a big role in my recruitment process. It’d just be a great offer to have.”

Woodyard hopes to return to Clemson next spring or summer. Along with Clemson, he visited Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Southern Cal and UCLA this summer.

Woodyard’s list of more than a dozen offers includes Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Southern Cal among others.

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Golden State standout DB likes the ‘vibe’ at Clemson

Clemson has become connected to a California high school powerhouse because of its starting quarterback. That’s allowed for others from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA.) to make that cross-country trip to The Valley. Prospects like 2024 DB Peyton …

Clemson has become connected to a California high school powerhouse because of its starting quarterback.

That’s allowed for others from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA.) to make that cross-country trip to The Valley. Prospects like 2024 DB Peyton Woodyard, who camped and had the opportunity to visit Clemson earlier this summer.

Woodyard recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding his time at Clemson and just what he’s been hearing as far as his recruitment is concerned.

Woodyard hasn’t been in contact with Clemson since his visit, but when he was on campus, he spoke at length with three members of the Tigers’ defensive coaching staff — defensive coordinator Brent Venables, cornerbacks coach Mike Reed and safeties coach Mickey Conn.

“They really like me,” Woodyard told TCI. “Coach Conn said they would have offered me if I wasn’t a ’24, but I definitely want to get back up there after this season.”

Hailing from California, distance isn’t going to play a factor in Woodyard’s eventual decision. He’s just looking for the best fit, whether that be Clemson or somewhere closer to home.

“I had a great time at Clemson, the whole vibe there was awesome,” he said. “They’re a real faith-based program. I got to meet Coach Reed, Coach Conn, Coach Venables and also got to meet the head coach, Coach Swinney. It was just a really awesome experience, there’s just a great vibe that you get from being at Clemson.”

‘They’re definitely a school that I would like to keep up there in my recruiting in the future,” Woodyard added. 

Obviously, playing at St. John Bosco, Woodyard is connected to the Uiagalelei family. He hangs out with Matayo on the weekends and has had some opportunities to speak with D.J. Woodyard conversed with them when he visited Clemson last month.

“They have nothing but good things to say about the program,” Woodyard said of the Uiagalelei family. 

For Woodyard, that gives him great confidence in continuing to build a relationship with the coaching staff at Clemson.

During his time at Swinney Camp, Woodyard spent his time working in a group with defensive backs. He got to work out with both Reed and Conn, where he participated in 1-on-1s, pressing at corner and playing off and inside.

What type of feedback did Woodyard get from Clemson’s coaches?

“Definitely just my readiness and being able to go out there and compete with all the upperclassmen, being an incoming sophomore,” he said.

Woodyard takes great pride in being able to play beyond his age group, which is something he’s done for all of his football career.

Woodyard certainly views himself as more of a defensive back. At Bosco, he’s labeled as a safety, but his school really has him play all over the defensive backfield. Woodyard considers himself a fast and physical ballhawk, who’s a complete defensive back that can more than hold his own at cornerback, nickel and safety.

That level of versatility should give him an upper edge at the next level.

Speaking of the next level, in addition to Clemson, Woodyard took visits to Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame and Southern Cal. He’s planning on making his way to UCLA later this month.

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