Scouting Journals for Peter Woods

Compact defensive lineman creates disruption with first-step quickness and speed in pursuit. Smaller than most of his fellow top defensive line prospects at around 6-foot-2, 280 pounds. Highly productive and disruptive while starring for one of the more talented high school teams in the Southeast. Lines up inside and at end for Thompson High. Has some of the best play speed we’ve seen from a defensive lineman nationally. Runs like a linebacker in pursuit. Makes plays behind the line of scrimmage at a high clip. Elevated his play as a junior and senior. Turned in a pair of highly impressive all-star performances at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and All-America Bowl. A high energy practice player who has been well coached. Likely projects as a three-technique long-term. Lacks prototypical length and frame for top prospects at the position.

Peter Woods was the most disruptive player in Tuesday’s game, putting an exclamation point on a good week at Under Armour. The Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson product feasted on a hapless Team Speed interior offensive line and lived in the backfield all evening. Woods did what he wanted. He tallied a number of plays behind the line of scrimmage and batted a pass that led to a pick by Texas signee Derek Williams. Woods is not the most physically imposing defensive lineman and can waver a bit when offensive linemen get into his body, but the competitive character – effort level, quickness and physicality show up in game settings.

Peter Woods turned in a dominant showing in practices at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. The Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson product was unblockable in inside drills and 11-on-11 sessions. Woods lived in the backfield all morning and teed off on the opposing offensive linemen. It looked like he and the talented Alabama defensive line made it difficult for the offense to get much done in the practice session. Woods lined up all over the defensive front, even kicking out to defensive end at times. His initial quickness off the ball and ability to convert speed to power was readily apparent. The Clemson pledge has a compact build at around 6-foot-2 and uses the lower center of gravity to his advantage in exploiting leverage. We saw Woods get underneath the pads of taller offensive linemen and use his strong base and heavy hands to walk the linemen back to the quarterback. He really took off in pass rush situations, showing some eye-catching burst and bend around the edge. We were also highly impressed with Woods’ overall effort level. He practiced the hardest of any player for Alabama on Wednesday and it showed. Even towards the end of practice, Woods was chasing after running backs from sideline-to-sideline.