Clemson teammates T.J. Parker and Peter Woods have come a long way since high school, when they were state rivals in Alabama. It was fate that they ended up as teammates in college, as Parker committed to the Tigers a month after Woods declared. Now that they have graduated and declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, Parker had high praise for Woods, whom he called his best friend at Clemson.
T.J. Parker Describes Peter Woods as ‘Family’ in Heartfelt Reflection
Parker appeared on Monday’s episode of the ACC Network Football Podcast and was asked about Woods and the bond they share after growing up in the same state and becoming teammates at Clemson. The 6’3″ defensive end described Woods, who played defensive tackle under the tutelage of Nick Eason, as his “dawg” and his “best friend.”
“We knew each other since high school. We played each other a couple of times,” Parker said, recalling their high school days in Alabama as he played in Central High School while Woods suited up for Thompson High School.
“We always talk about going to the same school and teaming up. We wouldn’t think it will be closer. I was thinking of a different school and it’s just happened that he committed to Clemson and a month later I committed to Clemson,” he added.
T.J. Parker and Peter Woods came to @ClemsonFB in 2023 as two of the top defensive linemen in the country.
Now they’re hoping to hear their names called in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ker4m5ubYT
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) February 17, 2026
The duo played for Dabo Swinney’s defense and, in three seasons together, worked their way to the top as potential NFL draftees this season. During their time together at Clemson, Parker treated Woods like family, spending time together during the offseason and during training.
FREE TOOL: PFSN CFB EDGE Impact
“We grow old and we set standards every year we hit ’em. We graduated and we declared after three years,” he said. “We held ourselves accountable and spent so much time together during the offseason and training. That’s just family. I’m happy for him.”
Parker Linked to $5.9 Billion Team Ahead of Draft
Parker, who has a 78.1 rating in PFSN’s CFB Edge Impact Metric, is being linked to the Arizona Cardinals in the latest NFL mock draft. Arizona, which is valued at $5.9 billion (per CNBC data), is expected to select the Clemson defensive end in the second round at No. 34 overall.
According to PFSN analyst Ryan Guthrie, Parker’s below-par third-year production affected his earlier projection as a top-10 candidate, but he made amends during the Senior Bowl with flashes of burst and bend off the edge.
“Under a defensive-minded staff, his raw traits can be maximized. In Round 2, Arizona secures a high-upside pass rusher with room to grow after skipping on an elite EDGE early at pick 3,” Guthrie wrote.
Parker recorded 37 tackles, including 18 solo stops, and five sacks this past season. His best season came in 2024, when he finished with 57 tackles (34 solo, 23 assisted) and 11 sacks.
Meanwhile, Woods, who is ranked No. 106 in PFSN’s DT Impact Metric with an impact rating of 76.6, recorded a career-high 30 tackles this season, 21 of which were assisted tackles, along with 2 sacks. In three seasons, he totaled 82 tackles (40 solo, 42 assisted) and 5 sacks.
Guthrie projected Woods higher in his mock draft at No. 16 overall, with the New York Jets selecting him via trade with the Indianapolis Colts. He expects the Jets to covet Woods’ physical interior presence in a bid to replace Quinnen Williams. The analyst believes Woods is tailor-made for the franchise because of his ability to collapse pockets and dominate single blocks.
