The New York Giants met with Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood for a formal visit at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, which ended earlier this month in Indianapolis.
Hood, a 6-foot, 193-pound redshirt sophomore from McDonough, Georgia, impressed at the Combine with athletic testing that included an official 4.44-second 40-yard dash, a 40.5-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-5 broad jump.
Scouts praise his physicality in press-man coverage, disruptive hand usage at the line, discipline in zone schemes, and run-support ability, drawing comparisons to Carlton Davis III. He brings box-safety traits, strong tackling, and vertical ball skills, positioning him as a potential CB2 in press-heavy defenses.
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein likens Hood to Colton Davis III.
Press-man bully with an ability to put his stamp on the first and last phases of the snap. Hood plays with a disruptive punch and gets his hands on most releases, but shifty NFL wideouts could create issues for him. He has enough speed to stay phased on verticals and does a nice job erasing space on in-breakers from tight press or off-man looks. He’s disciplined in zone but route switches still cause occasional missteps. Hood plays with aggression in the catch space, taking top positioning by force. Physicality also shows up in run support, where he triggers downhill with stopping power and finishes like an extra safety. Hood needs to sharpen his instincts/technique.
After beginning his college career at Auburn (redshirted, limited appearances) and transferring to Colorado in 2024 (24 tackles, two interceptions across 13 games), Hood found his footing at Tennessee in 2025. There, he earned second-team All-SEC honors with standout production, including strong tackling numbers and pass breakups, showcasing his growth into a confident, lockdown corner.
Multiple teams, including the Cowboys, Steelers, Saints, Dolphins, and Chargers, also held formal meetings with Hood, reflecting his rising stock as a Day 2 prospect with plus-starter upside in the 2026 NFL draft.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants met with Tennessee CB Colton Hood at the NFL Combine
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
