Tennessee has added depth and experience to its defensive backfield with the transfer of Colton Hood, a former Colorado cornerback who brings three years of eligibility to the Volunteers. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound defender announced his commitment on Friday after visiting Knoxville just a day earlier.
Hood played in all 13 games for the Buffaloes last season, making his first career start in a matchup against Arizona, where he held future top-10 NFL Draft pick Tetairoa McMillan to a single 10-yard reception on five targets. In total, Hood registered 24 tackles, one tackle for loss, six pass deflections, and two interceptions in 2024. He also contributed on special teams with four kickoff returns. Pro Football Focus awarded him a 68.8 defensive grade and a 70.4 in coverage.
A former 4-star recruit from Georgia, Hood began his collegiate career at Auburn in 2023, playing in four games while preserving his redshirt. Though he didn’t receive a Tennessee offer coming out of high school, head coach Josh Heupel and his staff made a strong push this time and quickly secured his commitment despite competition from Miami, Notre Dame, and others.
Tennessee now has seven confirmed transfer additions this offseason, with Hood being the first defensive back among them. The Vols also signed four freshman DBs, but the unit needed reinforcement following a serious ACL injury to returning starter Jermod McCoy in January. With McCoy sidelined, Hood is expected to compete for immediate playing time and could fill a key role on the outside opposite Rickey Gibson III.
