The Tennessee Volunteers, who have lost three defensive backs via the NCAA transfer portal since their Orange & White spring game on April 12, addressed that deficit Friday when they received a commitment from University of Colorado cornerback Colton Hood.
Hood was a redshirt freshman this past season for the Buffaloes, playing in all 13 games with one start and compiling 24 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions and a tackle for loss. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder spent much of the year backing up eventual Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
“Let’s do it Vol family,” Hood posted on social media.
Hood will be returning much closer to his hometown of McDonough, Georgia, to continue his college career. He was a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings, out of Eagles Landing Christian Academy and originally signed with Auburn.
With the 2023 Tigers, he played in four games, thus protecting his redshirt year, and tallied all three of his tackles that season in the Music City Bowl loss to Maryland.
Tennessee will be Hood’s third program in three years. The Vols recently lost offensive tackle Larry Johnson III and safety John Slaughter to the transfer portal, with each landing at Colorado, which is coming off a 9-4 season.
Hoop Vols hire Morgan
Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Friday the hiring of Amorrow Morgan as the new assistant coach.
Morgan spent the past two years at California and has also coached at Loyola Chicago, South Alabama and Nicholls State. He hails from Memphis and played at Idaho State, where he graduated in 2012.
“As soon as we knew we had a decision to make, it was immediately clear Amorrow would be our first choice,” Barnes said in a release. “He is a young, energetic coach with a sharp basketball mind who will make an impact with our program from day one. I know he will do all he can to help our players excel and that he will mesh with the strong culture we have in place.”
Morgan replaces Rod Clark, who spent four seasons with the Vols before recently leaving for Indiana.
Baseball game suspended
Friday night’s Southeastern Conference baseball series opener between No. 6 Tennessee (36-9, 13-8) and No. 11 Auburn (31-14, 11-10) inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium was suspended with the Tigers leading 2-0 in the middle of the first inning. It will resume at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Game two of the series will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.