A three-school defensive back whose one dazzling season at Tennessee turned him into a second-round pick of the Giants.
Colton Hood took a winding road to the NFL, playing for Auburn, Colorado and finally Tennessee before the Giants used the 37th overall pick on him in the 2026 draft. The McDonough, Georgia native paired elite speed with physical run support, and his lone season on Rocky Top was enough to convince New York he was worth a second-round investment at cornerback.
Path to the league
Hood began his career at Auburn in 2023 before taking a redshirt, then transferred to Colorado in 2024 where he played all 13 games and picked off two passes. He landed at Tennessee in 2025, where he immediately made an impact, including a fumble recovery he returned 22 yards for a touchdown in his Vols debut against Syracuse.
Career highlights
Hood played in 29 career college games across three programs: four at Auburn, 13 at Colorado and 12 at Tennessee. His breakout 2025 season earned him second-team All-SEC honors, and he tested well at the combine, running a 4.44-second 40-yard dash with a 40.5-inch vertical jump.
2025 season recap
In his only year at Tennessee, Hood was a full-time starter who combined tight man coverage with willing run support, earning second-team All-SEC recognition. The Giants selected him in the second round, 37th overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed him to his rookie contract shortly after.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Colton Hood
- Giants.com: Colton Hood Scouting Report
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Cornerback
- Group
- defense
- College
- Tennessee
- Hometown
- Mcdonough, GA, USA
- Age
- 21
- Status
- active
