Colton Hood Steals Spotlight at Senior Bowl Week as Draft Stock Continues to Surge
The Senior Bowl isn’t just a showcase-it’s a proving ground. And this week in Mobile, Alabama, one name is already turning heads before the pads even come on: Colton Hood.
The former Tennessee cornerback arrived at the Panini Senior Bowl as one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft class. Now, he’s being watched like a hawk by NFL evaluators and draft insiders alike.
ESPN’s Matt Miller didn’t mince words when he called Hood the top prospect in attendance this week, slotting him at No. 18 overall on his draft board. “Definitely looks the part in person,” Miller noted on social media-an endorsement that carries weight in a cornerback class full of question marks.
That’s the thing about this year’s CB group: there’s talent, but also plenty of uncertainty. Injuries and size concerns have clouded the top of the board, leaving the door open for a player like Hood to make a serious move. And he’s already doing just that.
Hood’s rise has been fast, but it hasn’t come out of nowhere. After transferring to Tennessee last offseason, he stepped into a defense that needed immediate help at corner.
The plan was for him to line up opposite returning starter Rickey Gibson III, but when Gibson went down with a season-ending injury in the opener, Hood was thrust into the CB1 role. He didn’t just survive-he thrived.
Opposing quarterbacks took their chances elsewhere, often targeting true freshman Ty Redmond. And when they did go after Hood, the results weren’t great-for them.
According to PFF, Hood was targeted 53 times in coverage last season, allowing just 28 completions for 318 yards and a single touchdown. That’s lockdown corner production in a conference that doesn’t exactly lack for elite wide receiver talent.
Standing six feet tall with fluid hips, sharp instincts, and a physical edge, Hood quickly became one of the SEC’s most reliable defensive backs. He finished the season with 50 tackles, one interception, and a forced fumble.
But his splash plays were even more telling: a scoop-and-score touchdown in the opener against Syracuse and a pick-six in a road win at Mississippi State. Those are momentum-swinging plays that stick in scouts’ minds.
And now, with the Senior Bowl underway, Hood has a golden opportunity to solidify his standing-and maybe even climb higher. He’s already cracked the first round in several mock drafts, including a recent projection that had him going No. 12 overall to the Dallas Cowboys. That’s a team that’s been linked to cornerback help for some time, and with the No. 20 pick in hand, they’ll be watching this week closely.
The broader cornerback class is still taking shape. LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee teammate Jermod McCoy are widely seen as the top two corners, but both come with caveats-Delane’s size has raised concerns, and McCoy missed the entire 2025 season due to injury. That opens the door for Hood to climb into that top tier, especially if he continues to impress in practices and Saturday’s game.
There’s even growing talk that Tennessee could see two corners go in the first round this year. If McCoy returns to form and Hood keeps trending upward, both could be off the board by the time the Cowboys are on the clock. And if that’s the case, don’t be surprised if Hood ends up being the one who hears his name called first.
Hood is one of three former Volunteers participating in Senior Bowl week, joining defensive lineman Bryson Eason and fellow defensive back Jalen McMurray. All eyes will be on Hancock Whitney Stadium this Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
ET, when the game kicks off. But for Colton Hood, the real work is already underway-and so far, he’s passing every test.