Why a defensive tackle has emerged as one of Clemson’s top short-yardage backs
OK, he’s not Travis Hunter.
But Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods is carving out a legit role for the Tigers’ offense in 2025. Yes, the Tigers’ offense.
During Saturday’s 41-10 win over Boston College, Woods – a 6-3, 310-pound junior lineman who’s widely considered a first-round NFL Draft pick – picked up a first down on a 4th and 1 around midfield and later rushed for a 2-yard touchdown out of a jumbo package.
Woods is now 3 for 3 on converting fourth downs via rush for Clemson and 4 for 4 on reaching the line to gain when he touches the ball, all while starring on the team’s defensive unit.
Case in point: Woods on Saturday became the first player in the FBS this season to record a rushing touchdown and at least half a sack in a game this season, and the first Clemson player to accomplish it since program legend Christian Wilkins against South Carolina in 2018.
“Maybe the best tailback we’ve got is Peter Woods,” coach Dabo Swinney joked postgame.
Clemson (3-3, 2-2 ACC) has routinely used jumbo packages featuring multiple offensive linemen and defensive linemen on the field in short-yardage or goal-line situations. Occasionally, Swinney and the Tigers will also line up a defensive lineman at running back or fullback and give them carries.
Woods played five offensive snaps as a fullback in that role last year, but he never touched the ball and worked exclusively as a blocker on offense.
That changed in a Sept. 28 loss to Syracuse, when Woods took a handoff on a 4th and 1 and picked up two yards.
In Clemson’s next game, a blowout win over UNC on Oct. 4, Woods ran for three yards on a 4th and 1 conversion that directly preceded a touchdown. And he took things to another level against Boston College with his first career rushing touchdown.
“That’s a big guy’s dream,” Woods said postgame, per TigerNet.com.
Having already converted a 4th and 1 earlier in the game, Woods was settled in by the time he took a handoff from QB Cade Klubnik early in the second quarter. The Tigers were leading Boston College 10-3, but the Eagles had just gotten on the board with a field goal.
So it’s not like Woods’ touchdown came in garbage time – it came on a first and goal play in a one-score game, and during a key drive for Clemson in an ACC road game. The Tigers’ personnel on the play in question was Klubnik, Woods and nine offensive linemen.
Yes, nine. With offensive lineman Brayden Jacobs and Walker Parks lined up in the backfield as his two fullbacks, Woods took his carry from Klubnik, accelerated, followed his blocks, shook off a swiping leg tackle and spun into the end zone to give Clemson a 17-3 lead.
It was a surprisingly smooth and athletic rep from the defensive tackle – not too far off from some of the short-yardage plays starting running back Adam Randall has executed this year.
“I’ve got a job, obviously, on offense and I just wanna be the best at my job,” Woods said. “That’s what was going through my mind. Ball security, stuff that you don’t really work on as a defensive lineman. … But it felt good to get into the end zone.”
Per Clemson, Woods was the first Clemson DT to score a rushing touchdown since Nyles Pinckney against Georgia Tech in 2020. Woods added a half sack in the third quarter, combining with DE Will Heldt for the stop, and recorded three tackles as the Tigers held BC to just 10 points and one touchdown.
Clemson’s jumbo RB has now carried the ball four times for nine yards this season, with every touch going for either a first down on fourth down (three times) or a touchdown (once).
“Good things happen when we give him the ball,” Swinney said. “That was fun.”
Is there a name for Woods’ special running play?
“No,” Woods said, laughing. “It’s just more like, ‘Peter, get on the field.’”
This story was originally published October 12, 2025 at 7:15 AM.
