Rumph ‘Can’t Imagine Two Better Defensive Ends in the Country’

During Clemson’s annual media outing this week, defensive ends coach Chris Rumph discussed T.J. Parker’s offseason development and the potential he has heading into his sophomore season.

With fellow sophomore star Peter Woods moving to the outside this season and lining up opposite Parker, Rumph can envision the two forming a defensive end duo that’s second to none in college football.

“His game has really taken off,” Rumph said of Parker. “He gained a lot of weight this spring. Offseason, I think he got up to like 275 pounds. If you saw him in the spring, he knows that he was out of shape. I wasn’t happy with where he was, and then all of a sudden, he’s texting me pictures now – he’s like 260 pounds. I’m happy for him.

“But his progression and where he is, the sky’s the limit for this guy. Him and potentially Peter on the edges, I can’t imagine two better defensive ends in the country.”

Clemson defensive linemen Peter Woods (11), and T.J. Parker (12) during the third quarter Saturday, September 30, 2023 at the JMA Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

Woods, of course, was moved to defensive end in the spring to help bring experienced depth to the position that lost Xavier Thomas and Justin Mascoll.

“We tried it in the spring and he went through playing defensive end in the spring. I thought he had a really, really good spring,” Rumph said of Woods. “It was pretty cool. Ask the offensive guys how it was trying to run the ball his way. But he’s been really good, and we’re just trying to put him in a position where he can be successful and help the defense.

“When you get a guy as big as he is and as strong as he is, a lot of times he’s going to be matched up versus tight ends that’s 250, 260 pounds, and here he is, 315, 320, and you’re trying to block that guy consistently. I think eventually that guy may go back to the sideline and say, ‘Coach, don’t call that play again.’ So, that’s our objective.”

As for the percentage of times Woods will play inside at defensive tackle and outside at end, Rumph said a lot of that will depend on the game plan in a given week, as well as the development of defensive ends behind Woods – with Rumph specifically mentioning guys like redshirt juniors Cade Denhoff and Zaire Patterson, redshirt sophomore Jahiem Lawson and sophomore A.J. Hoffler.

“If those guys really step it up, then we’re like, you know what, we won’t lose much if we put (Woods) inside full time and then have this guy at defensive end full time,” Rumph said. “So, we want to balance it out, but we also want to get our best 11 on the football field as well.”

A former five-star prospect, Woods is coming off an impressive 2023 season, when he posted 27 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a forced fumble in 307 snaps over 12 games (two starts) en route to being named a freshman All-American by various outlets. The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder was also credited with 10 quarterback pressures, the most among Clemson defensive tackles last season.

As for Parker, he was also a freshman All-America selection by numerous outlets last season, as well as a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year semifinalist. He racked up 41 tackles (12.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery over 13 games (three starts).

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