Tennessee's Colton Hood projected to be first-round pick in new NFL mock draft

Jermod McCoy is no long the only Tennessee Football cornerback projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Colton Hood joined the list this week, according to a mock draft from CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Mike Renner.

The mock draft had McCoy at No. 11 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals while Hood was projected at No. 16 to the Cleveland Browns. 

“McCoy has yet to play coming off a January ACL tear,” Renner wrote, “but his tape last year was good enough to justify this spot. Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden needs more corners to run his man-heavy defense.”

‘Hood has emerged … as a lockdown cornerback in his own right’

McCoy is ranked by CBS as the No. 6 overall prospect and the No. 1 cornerback in the draft. Hood is ranked No. 35 overall and No. 3 at corner.

“If Jermod McCoy ever gets back healthy this season,” Renner wrote, “the Vols will undoubtedly have the best cornerback duo in college football. That’s because Hood has emerged after transferring from Colorado as a lockdown cornerback in his own right. 

“Through four games this season, Hood has allowed four catches on 17 targets for only 32 yards. With both Greg Newsome II and Martin Emerson hitting free agency, Hood would fill a need (with the Browns).”

McCoy has been sidelined since tearing his ACL during offseason training in January. He returned to the practice field in a limited role in late August, but has yet to make his debut this season.

His breakout season at Tennessee a year ago included 44 tackles and nine passes defended to go with the four interceptions, which he returned for 71 yards. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee. 

Hood has been another elite find out of the NCAA Transfer Portal. He started his college career at Auburn in 2023, where he had three tackles in four games, then transferred to Colorado, where he had 24 tackles, a tackle for loss and two interceptions in 13 games last season.

Colton Hood returned fumble 22 yards for touchdown against Syracuse

Through his first four games at Tennessee, Hood has 13 tackles, five passes broken up and a forced fumble. He has been targeted 16 times, giving up just four catches for 22 yards, zero touchdowns and only six yards after contact. 

Hood has been another elite find out of the NCAA Transfer Portal. He started his college career at Auburn in 2023, where he had three tackles in four games, then transferred to Colorado, where he had 24 tackles, a tackle for loss and two interceptions in 13 games last season.

Through his first four games at Tennessee, Hood has 13 tackles, five passes broken up and a fumble recovering, with a 22-yard scoop-and-score for a touchdown against Syracuse in Week 1. He has been targeted 16 times, giving up just four catches for 22 yards, zero touchdowns and only six yards after contact.