The clear leader in the defensive tackle group stands out on the Clemson football team: junior Peter Woods.
In two seasons with the Tigers, Woods has been really good with 59 tackles, including 11.0 for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. The 2023 Freshman All-American played both on the inside and outside last year by necessity, but it will be a good thing for Woods to settle in on the inside this season.
A dominant season from Woods, which is not outside the realm of possibility, can help turn around the Clemson defense in defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s first season with the program.
But Woods has plenty of help. That starts with graduate student Demonte Capehart, who has 59 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, in 45 career games. Getting Capehart back for yet another season was a big offseason development for the team entering the 2025 season.
Capehart’s experience should help with the growth of the young players on the depth chart. That group includes third-year sophomores Vic Burley and Stephiylan Green and Amare Adams, redshirt freshmen Hevin Brown-Shuler and Champ Thompson and true freshman Amare Adams, one of the top players in the 2025 recruiting class.
Burley has been slowed by injuries, while Green took a big step last year, playing in 12 games after playing in just two games in 2023.
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