Senior Bowl Notebook | NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah Zeros In on 2 Players in His Top 50

No. 16: Tennessee CB Colton Hood
Long (6-0) and lean (195), Colton Hood finished his college career with the Volunteers after playing a season at Auburn and one at Colorado.

“Well, he’s one of a pair of corners [Jermod McCoy at No. 14 is the other], unfortunately, they didn’t get a chance to play together due to injury, but I got two Tennessee corners going in the top 20. And when you look at Colton Hood, I start first of all with the toughness. When you’re looking at corners nowadays, you better be able to fill and force against the run. He will do that. He can mirror and match you with his fluidity and movement skills, and he can find and play the football. I think he’s a plug and play starter at the next level.”

In his lone season with the Volunteers, Hood made 50 tackles (34 solo), had a forced fumble and 1 interception (a pick-6 against Mississippi State), a fumble recovery he returned 23 yards for a TD against Syracuse, and also 8 passes defended.

He’s capable against the run and is not shy about taking on blockers. In pass coverage, he’s comfortable up at the line of scrimmage, in the face of the receiver he’s defending and generally wins more battles than he loses.

No. 26: Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter
Back in his hometown, Lee Hunter (6-4, 325) is Jeremiah’s No. 1-rated defensive tackle. Hunter began his college career redshirted as a true freshman at Auburn, but did not play. He entered the transfer portal, spending three seasons at Central Florida, then his final season with the Red Raiders.

“Sometimes you got to plant your flag on a player and he’s a statement player for me,” Jeremiah said. “When I watched Lee Hunter, the first game that I watched as I got to him late in the process was the playoff game against Oregon, and it starts snap one in that game. You can see what he can do at 320-plus pounds, with the quickness, the ability to penetrate. He’s going to be able to hold the point as a run defender, and then showing you some upside, a little wiggle as a pass rusher. So to me, this is a great opportunity for the hometown boy to have a very big week.”

In 12 games, Hunter had 41 tackles (16 solo), a forced fumble, 2.5 sacks and 7.5 TFL.