CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods made headlines on Friday, revealing his surprise at his physical transformation during the team's BIG Weigh-In day. "I looked at the scale on the BIG Weigh-In day, and I was just as surprised as everybody else," Woods said. "I always tell everybody I'm in the best shape that I've ever been in in my life. The fastest, the strongest. [...] These first two days of practice, I've felt the best I've ever felt."
Woods' excitement for the game is palpable, particularly when discussing his versatility on the field. "It's the most fun thing about football to me. The fact that I can go out there and you don't really know where I'm gonna be is what makes it a lot of fun," he said. "And the fact that there are so many guys around me — you can't even pinpoint me because [there are] dogs everywhere."
Woods emphasized the strong bond he shares with his teammates, attributing their success to mutual respect and accountability. "That just comes from the relationship that I have with my teammates. We're on each other pretty hard, [but] it's out of love," Woods explained. "And we've had that talk — every time I get on them, I come back, 'You know I love you, right? That's why I do this, because I care about y'all, and I want y'all to get to where y'all say you want to be.' Same thing with me, I require accountability all across the board. If I'm doing something, if I'm slacking, let me know. That's just kind of the relationship we have, really across the whole team. That's another special thing about this team."
Leadership, according to Woods, transcends age and is defined by action and example. "Coach Eason tells me all the time, 'Leadership is not age. It's action and example.' The person who's taking the right actions and making the right example reserves the right to be a leader. That's from the youngest of the youngest, to the oldest of the oldest," Woods said. "There's guys that will hold me accountable on something I do, and I'll be the last one to say anything back, because I know where it's coming from, and I know that it's all constructive criticism. And that's one thing that is just crazy about this team, is the fact that everybody's so bought into the process of wanting to get better and wanting to see their brothers win."
Woods' drive is fueled by a deep sense of purpose, extending beyond personal achievements. "Drive, man. It's drive. We talk about, in our team meetings, making sure that when you're doing something, that you do it for a 'why.' I think my thing is that my 'why' is so much bigger than myself, and really I can't pinpoint one," he said. "I'm doing this for my family, I'm doing this for my brothers, I'm doing this for the people in my city."