CHARLOTTE – Clemson brought a pair of best friends, roommates, former fierce rivals, and accountability partners as representatives at the 2025 ACC Media Kickoff at the Hilton Uptown.

T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, two junior defensive linemen for the Tigers, have known each other for the better part of a decade.

Years before they tackled their way to fame at Clemson, the pair competed against each other four times in Alabama’s 7-A high school state championship, with Woods’ Thompson Warriors besting Parker and Central-Phenix City each time.

Once rivals, Parker and Woods now consider themselves best friends, after two years as roommates and teammates at Clemson.

“That’s my best friend,” Parker told media members at the ACC Kickoff. “We push each other in life in general to be the best we can. Whether it’s on the field, off the field, in the classroom, we always want the best for each other in life. He’s going to hold me accountable, if he tells me straightforward or pulls me to the side, it’s always out of love and it goes both ways.”

Woods, a former five-star recruit, announced his commitment to Clemson over Alabama in July of 2022 after a highly-contested recruiting battle. Four months later, Parker followed his lead, ripping off a Nike jacket in his commitment video to reveal an orange Tiger.

With the two commitments, Clemson’s defense began a new era. Hard-hitting, physical, defensive linemen at Clemson became a headline, after several quieter years. Now, with two seasons under their belt and one on the horizon, the pair are poised to be drafted in this year’s NFL Draft.

Additionally, they both have a championship to celebrate together after securing the ACC title last season.

Woods and Parker are long past seeing each other as rivals.

“We went into college knowing we were going to be roommates,” Parker said. “It’s always that constant competition, I understand he won four state championships, that’s cool, we are still in the same room so it is what it is,” he laughed. “I’m so glad we got to enjoy an ACC Championship together, we got more to come.”

According to Woods, the friendship with his roommate goes beyond the moments that are easy to celebrate, like a sack, tackle for loss, or an all-conference award. Woods and Parker’s friendship is strongest when things are hardest.

“It’s meant a lot to me, just helping each other grow and push each other, but more than anything just being there for each other,” Woods said. “Everything is good in the lights, everybody is good. You hear about all of these mock drafts and we’re neck-and-neck, we’re all here, but everything is not always sunshine and rainbows. The fact that he’s always there for me and I’m always there for him, and we can talk about something, anything with family, that’s really what our relationship is about and it goes way deeper than just what goes on the field.”

Woods and Parker both agree that accountability between the pair is invaluable, and five years after their first matchup, it is time for Parker and Woods to play their final season as teammates.

Their chemistry and accountability will be visible on Aug. 30, when the Tigers begin their season against LSU at Memorial Stadium.