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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CLEMSON, S.C. – After terrorizing offenses across Alabama in high school, Jeremiah Alexander and Peter Woods now have a chance to do so at the collegiate level.

The former Thompson star Alexander will transfer to Clemson University to play football for the Tigers. The news was first reported by On3’s Hayes Fawcett on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

Alexander arrives in Clemson from Alabama where he played three seasons at inside linebacker for the Crimson Tide. Most of his impact came on special teams, and he earned just nine tackles across 27 appearances at Alabama, including five in an injury-shortened 2024.

Before arriving in Tuscaloosa though, Alexander was a five-star talent for the Thompson Warriors during the first three of their four-straight Class 7A state championships.

In his senior season in 2022, he finished with 83 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and more than 20 sacks. As a result, he was named an Under Armour All-American, won his second-straight Class 7A Lineman of the Year award and made his fourth-straight appearances on the Class 7A All-State and All-County teams.

Alexander was also named the 2020 Shelby County Player of the Year as a junior when he secured Lineman of the Year and Super All-State honors as well.

He’ll join his former high school teammate Peter Woods in Clemson, where Woods has already made his name on the national stage.

In his two seasons with the Tigers, Woods has racked up 54 tackles, including 31 solo tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks along with two forced fumbles. He was also named a Freshman All-American in 2023 after earning 26 tackles despite starting just two of his 12 appearances.

The pair will join another Shelby County legend in Pelham native Dabo Swinney, who coached Clemson to national championships in 2016 and 2018 and recently returned to the College Football Playoff in 2024 after winning his ninth ACC Championship.

Alexander is just the third transfer Clemson has taken in the six years of the transfer portal’s existence, all of which have come since the portal reopened in December. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining as a redshirt junior.