As the page turned from Tennessee’s 2024 season that ended with a College Football Playoff loss at Ohio State, one position area that didn’t seem to need much addressing was the secondary.
Rickey Gibson III and Jermod McCoy provided the Volunteers an impressive returning tandem at cornerback, with Boo Carter back at the “star” position and Andre Turrentine at safety. That line of thinking was altered a bit when McCoy tore his ACL in January and Carter missed multiple team activities last month, which is why the addition of Colton Hood was appreciated when he committed in May out of the NCAA transfer portal and is even more valued now.
“On tape, we saw an athletic player who can be very versatile in terms of playing different positions,” secondary coach Willie Martinez said Monday following Tennessee’s ninth preseason practice. “We didn’t know anything about his personality, but when he came on campus for the first time, you could tell he fit into our room from the standpoint of maturity, confidence and being the ultimate team guy.
“He has a team-first mentality, and when he started working out for us, you could see the traits. He’s had a great fall camp up to this point. He can play corner. He can play star, and he can play in our dime package.”
Hood, who was a four-star prospect in the 2023 signing class out of Eagle’s Landing Christian in the Atlanta suburb of McDonough, is attending his third power conference school in as many years.
The 6-foot, 195-pound redshirt sophomore signed originally with Auburn and saw action in four games for Hugh Freeze’s Tigers, which enabled him to redshirt. Hood then transferred to Colorado, where he played in all 13 contests last season and tallied 24 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions and one tackle for loss, before choosing to return closer to home.
“I saw an SEC school that made the playoff last year and had a dominant defense,” Hood said Monday. “I wanted to be a part of something special like that, and when I saw that opportunity come up, I knew I had to take it.”
Hood was part of Colorado’s rotation at cornerback that contained Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. His most notable performance occurred in the 34-7 rout of Arizona, when he returned an interception 46 yards and held Wildcats star receiver and eventual NFL first-round selection Tetairoa McMillan to five receptions for 38 yards.
It’s that kind of performance that Hood hopes to make with regularity in Knoxville.
“I pride myself on locking down the best guy on the opposing team,” Hood said.
Tennessee coaches have been guarded as to when McCoy can be expected to suit up for the Vols without any limitations or whether Carter will have to miss any game time because of his actions last month. Hood may prove to be that security blanket in either situation.
“We’re excited about Hood, to say the least,” Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks said. “He’s extremely competitive, and he’s a kid who understands there is a process to everything that you do. I think he has fit in with our guys in our group. He’s super hungry, but he’s also really smart.
“Obviously, he has to do it here at the University of Tennessee, but based on everything we have seen, we have no doubt that he will be able to help us in some capacity.”
Odds and ends
Tennessee was the 10th of 10 Southeastern Conference teams that landed in Monday’s Associated Press preseason poll, with the Vols checking in at No. 24. … Redshirt junior receiver Chris Brazzell II, who has been injured in camp and was arrested last Friday night in Knoxville for speeding and driving on a suspended license, ran some routes during Monday’s portion of practice that was open to the media. … The Vols will practice again Tuesday before taking Wednesday off.