Tennessee CB Colton Hood Expected to Enter 2026 NFL Draft After Breakout Season
Colton Hood’s rise has been one of the most compelling storylines in Tennessee’s 2025 campaign - and now, it looks like the star cornerback is ready to take the next step. According to multiple reports, the current expectation is that Hood will declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, capping off a breakout season that’s put him squarely on the radar of NFL scouts and analysts.
At six feet tall and 195 pounds, Hood brought both physicality and playmaking to the Volunteers’ secondary. A native of McDonough, Georgia, he emerged as the Vols’ No. 1 cornerback this season and didn’t just fill the role - he thrived in it.
Hood finished the year with 50 total tackles, eight pass breakups, 4.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Oh, and he also found the end zone twice - a rare feat for a cornerback, and a testament to his knack for turning defense into offense.
What makes Hood’s story even more impressive is the road he took to get here. Originally a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, he signed with Auburn and saw limited action as a freshman before redshirting.
From there, he made a stop in Boulder, playing under Deion Sanders at Colorado in 2024. But it was his transfer to Tennessee that unlocked his full potential.
With injuries to key corners Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III, Hood was thrust into a leading role - and he delivered in a big way.
Tennessee finished the regular season at 8-4, and Hood was a key reason the defense held its own despite the attrition in the secondary. He wasn’t just a fill-in; he became the cornerstone of the Vols’ pass defense, consistently matching up against top receivers and bringing a competitive edge to every snap.
Now, with draft buzz heating up, Hood is drawing serious attention from NFL evaluators. ESPN recently polled four of its top draft analysts to rank the best cornerback prospects for the 2026 class.
Hood cracked the top five for three of them - Matt Miller and Jordan Reid both slotted him at No. 4, while Steve Muench had him even higher at No. 3.
Mel Kiper Jr. had him just outside the top tier at No. 6, but that still places Hood firmly in the early-round conversation.
And in ESPN’s latest mock draft, Field Yates projected Hood as a first-rounder, sending him No. 30 overall to the New England Patriots. Yates highlighted Hood’s energy and aggressiveness, noting his 10 pass breakups and his willingness to mix it up in run support. “He loves the challenge of man coverage,” Yates wrote - and that mentality has clearly resonated with scouts.
With Hood expected to declare, he’ll become the fourth Volunteer from the 2025 squad to make the leap to the pros. Cornerback Jermod McCoy, wide receiver Chris Brazzell, and linebacker Arion Carter have already announced their intentions to enter the draft.
As for Tennessee’s upcoming bowl game against Illinois in Nashville, there’s no official word yet on whether Hood will suit up. But given recent trends with draft-bound players, it wouldn’t be surprising if he opts to sit out and prepare for the next level.
Regardless of how his college career ends, Hood’s lone season in Knoxville will be remembered as a pivotal one - not just for his own development, but for the Vols’ defense as a whole. He stepped up when the team needed him most and turned in a season that now has NFL teams taking a long, hard look.
The 2026 NFL Draft is set for April 23-25 in Green Bay, and if Hood keeps trending the way he has, don’t be surprised to hear his name called early.