Clemson’s Peter Woods and Avieon Terrell Earn AP All-America Honors After Standout 2025 Seasons
Clemson’s defense has long been a factory for elite talent, and in 2025, two more Tigers added their names to the program’s storied legacy. Defensive tackle Peter Woods and cornerback Avieon Terrell were both named to the Associated Press All-America Team, a recognition that cements their impact on one of the nation’s most improved defenses.
The AP is one of five organizations that factor into the NCAA’s consensus and unanimous All-America selections. With Woods and Terrell making the cut, Clemson now boasts 88 AP All-America selections in its history - numbers that speak to the program’s consistency at producing top-tier talent.
Peter Woods: Anchoring the Defensive Front
Woods earned second-team honors in what was a breakout junior campaign. After an injury-limited sophomore year, he came back healthy and dominant, starting all 12 games and racking up 40 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and 2.0 sacks. But the raw numbers only tell part of the story.
Woods was the engine of a defensive line that took a massive leap forward in 2025. Clemson’s run defense, which ranked 85th nationally in 2024, surged to 14th this season - a jump of more than 45 yards per game allowed. That kind of improvement doesn’t happen without a disruptive force in the middle, and Woods was exactly that.
His performance earned him not only AP second-team honors, but the same recognition from USA Today. He becomes the first Clemson defensive tackle named to the AP All-America team since Christian Wilkins in 2018 - and that’s no small comparison.
Wilkins was a unanimous All-American and a foundational piece of a national title team. Woods now joins an elite group of Clemson interior linemen to earn All-America status, alongside names like William “The Refrigerator” Perry, Jim Stuckey, and Carlos Watkins.
Avieon Terrell: A Playmaker in the Secondary
On the back end, junior cornerback Avieon Terrell earned third-team All-America honors from the AP after a season that showcased both consistency and big-play ability.
Terrell started all 12 games and filled the stat sheet with 46 tackles (4.5 for loss), 11 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. That’s not just production - that’s game-changing impact. His five forced fumbles tied the single-season school record and also gave him the career mark for a Clemson defensive back with eight.
A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and a first-team All-ACC selection, Terrell became just the 12th defensive back - and sixth cornerback - in Clemson history to earn AP All-America honors. He’s the first Tiger corner to receive that recognition since Cordrea Tankersley in 2016, and his knack for creating turnovers puts him in rare company alongside players like Brandon Maye and T.J. Parker, the only other Tigers to force five fumbles in a season.
Defensive Duo Helped Fuel Clemson’s Turnaround
Woods and Terrell weren’t just individual standouts - they were key to Clemson’s late-season surge. After a rocky 1-3 start, the Tigers rallied to finish 7-5 and extend their bowl streak to 27 straight seasons. That turnaround doesn’t happen without leadership and production on defense, and both Woods and Terrell delivered in big moments.
Now, with one more game to play - a Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Penn State on Dec. 27 - the duo has a chance to cap off their All-American seasons with a statement win on a national stage.
Clemson’s defense has been the backbone of the program for years, and in 2025, Peter Woods and Avieon Terrell carried that tradition forward - with authority.