Peter Woods, a defensive tackle from Clemson, spoke about his skills and readiness for the National Football League during the 2026 NFL combine in Charlotte on Apr. 17. Woods described himself as a “game disruptor” and said he is confident in his ability to challenge offenses at the professional level.
Woods’ comments come as teams assess potential draft picks and consider how players like him can contribute to their defensive strategies. The Carolina Panthers, who play home games in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, are among the organizations evaluating new talent for their roster according to the official website.
“I’m the type of guy that causes offensive coordinators to lose sleep at night planning for me,” Woods said. “You don’t really know where I’m going to line up, you don’t know where I’m going to be, but you’ve got to respect it, and you’ve got to know where I’m at at all times.”
In college, Woods played multiple positions along the defensive line and recorded notable statistics over two seasons. He addressed concerns about his arm length by saying it has not been an issue with teams: “It’s easy to say ‘His arms are short,’ but…what’s on tape is on tape.” He also credited teammates such as Will Heldt and T.J. Parker for contributing to his performance.
Woods said he brings positional versatility: “I think I bring a lot of positional versatility to any team that I go to.” According to Pro Football Focus data cited during interviews, most of his snaps in 2025 were played in the B-gap while earlier seasons saw him positioned across various spots on the line.
The Carolina Panthers have secured multiple division titles and playoff appearances according to their official website. The organization also supports community outreach efforts throughout North and South Carolina while emphasizing championship culture.
Looking ahead, Woods explained how he has prepared for life as a professional athlete by focusing on offseason training routines: “Just learning my body and learning nutrition…and just be a ball player. I think I really mastered that.” While he scored two goal-line rushing touchdowns last season at Clemson, Woods downplayed expectations of becoming a regular two-way player like Travis Hunter: “He does it at a much higher rate than me…But I can’t line up at the one receiver. I’ll probably never try to do that.”
