It’s one thing for media pundits or analysts to say a player is dominating. It’s another thing to hear it from your peers on the football field.
In the case of Tennessee football cornerback Colton Hood, he has clearly earned the respect of his opponents in his one year with the Vols. After his showing at the Senior Bowl, The Athletic’s Dan Brugler joined Crown Global Media to discuss the top cornerbacks in the class.
Brugler revealed that among the receivers he’s talked to this offseason, Hood’s name has popped up more than any of the toughest matchup they had in 2025.
“I thought that Colton Hood did a nice job down here, the other Tennessee corner,” Brugler said. “Didn’t practice the third day, but the first two days. At every all-star event, if you’re a corner, you’re going to have your misses, you’re going to have your losses. It’s just a volatile position by nature. But I thought he more than held his own and showed why he is one of the top corners in this draft.
“I always love talking to these guys. Talking to players at the Shrine Bowl, talking to players at the Senior Bowl, I’m always asking them, ‘Who is the toughest guy you have gone against this year?’ When I talked to receivers, I had more tell me Colton Hood than any other player just because of how big he is, how fluid he is and just his ability to compete at the catch-point.”
Dane Brugler’s Top 5 Cornerbacks in the 2026 #NFLDraft. 👑
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Brugler is also high on Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy. The issue with grading him is that he missed the entire 2025 season due to an ACL injury, though.
That’s why Brugler will have an eye out on how he grades out at the NFL Combine.
“Jermod McCoy is obviously interesting because we don’t have any 2025 tape on him,” Brugler said. “Those medicals at the combine will be everything. You’re at least encouraged that the injury, the ACL is a year ago, January. He should be fully healed for the combine and working out.”
The draft is scheduled to begin on April 25, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The first round will take place on Thursday, with the second and third rounds the following day, and the remainder of the draft after that. Both Hood and McCoy are largely projected as first-round selections.
