Can’t wait for Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy to return to the Volunteer defense. Would create top cornerback duo in the country with RS So Colton Hood (#8), who has been great.

Son of former NFL DB Roderick Hood, he’s a tenacious cover man. Isn’t afraid to hit. + COD and length. pic.twitter.com/GlqT4Nhge2

— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) October 9, 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs found a potential long-term starter when they selected Nohl Williams in the third round this past spring. However, upcoming free agents and concerns about performance at nickel hint at the Chiefs needing to add another cornerback in the 2026 NFL draft.

Tennessee Volunteers cornerback Colton Hood is one of the highest risers of the 2025 college football season. The Colorado transfer originally received significant playing time because Jermod McCoy still needed time to recover from his torn ACL. Now, Hood looks like the top healthy prospect on a talented Volunteers defense.

Hood lacks outstanding size at 6’0″, 195 lbs., but his arms appear to meet the NFL’s desired length requirements. He deploys fiery punches in press to re-route receivers and drive outside releases out of bounds. Hood plays stronger than his listed size suggests. He doesn’t mind hand fighting with larger receivers and attacks the ball at the catch point.

Hood’s aggression leads to the occasional missed jam, but he’s quick and fluid enough to recover and get in phase. He stays in the hip pocket on inside releases and is fast enough to undercut routes like slants for pass breakups. Hood’s quick footwork allows him to decelerate and mirror wide receivers at the top of the route’s stem.

Sometimes, Hood gets too grabby in man coverage. This usually happens when he feels threatened vertically. He’s fast enough to recover downfield and make plays at the catch point but lacks the discipline to avoid tugging jerseys on some deep passes. This grabbiness also pops up on some comebacks and curls.

Hood also excels in zone coverage. He triggers quickly and flashes the closing burst to undercut routes. His impressive awareness helps him address layered route concepts while pinching throwing lanes. Hood reads the quarterback’s eyes to anticipate and jump throwing lanes.

Hood makes some nice solo tackles in space but isn’t a reliable contributor against the run. His aggression approaching stalk blocks is inconsistent, and he suffers from too many missed tackles.

Tennessee faces No. 6 Alabama on the road at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 18. The matchup is an excellent opportunity for Hood to showcase his skills against rising quarterback prospect Ty Simpson and Alabama’s three-headed wide receiver room. Germie Bernard is the team’s top receiver this year, followed by sophomore Ryan Williams and Isaiah Horton.