The hiring of sought-after OC Garrett Riley by Dabo Swinney a few years back made headlines. And now, after the 2024 season, he was back on the hunt—this time for a defensive mastermind. Well, parting ways with Wes Goodwin, Swinney found his guy in ex-Indiana HC Tom Allen. Truly, it’s a bold move and one that could ignite Clemson’s defense. Here, the new DC is already making his presence felt. Yes, known for his fiery, hands-on coaching style, he’s winning over his players—not just with his defensive schemes but with his relentless energy. After a recent spring practice, DT Peter Woods shared a glimpse of Allen’s intensity. Hope you remember that earlier in camp, Allen reportedly tackled freshman DB Corian Gipson after a pass breakup. But now, Woods has another story to add to Coach Allen’s growing legacy.
On the March 30 episode of The Clemson Insider, Peter Woods was asked about Coach Allen—what’s different and what he likes. However, Wood’s response was simple but powerful. “I love Coach Allen. I tell everybody who asks me, I’d run through a wall for that man. He just brings so much energy to the defense,” said Wood. But Woods didn’t stop there; he had more to say about the fiery new leader shaping Dabo Swinney’s Clemson defense.
Here, Woods didn’t just praise Allen’s energy—he highlighted his demanding coaching style, saying, “He’s a challenger. He’s going to make you uncomfortable in every situation. When you think that you’re the best that you can be, he’s going to prove to you that you have so much better to get.” As of now, for a player hungry to grow, that kind of push is invaluable. And for Clemson’s defense, it could be a game-changer. Following that, Woods stated, “And I think that’s something that I can appreciate where I am in my career.”
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