CB draft prospect for the Cowboys is the real McCoy

The Dallas secondary has gone from a strength to a major headache faster than you can get your head turned around on a deep pass. After the bottom dropped out on Trevon Diggs and the unfortunate foot injuries to DaRon Bland, the Cowboys now find themselves in a bit of a pickle. While Shavon Revel Jr. and Caelen Carson were expected to provide some relief, neither has truly stepped up to the plate. At least not yet. This makes cornerback a massive, blinking red light of a need in the upcoming draft. If the front office is looking for a player who can stabilize the boundary, there is a particular alternate Volunteer cornerback who can help address this pressing need.

CB, Colton Hood, Tennessee

Height: 6’0” | Weight: 193 pounds | Speed: 4.44 forty time

Background

Hood’s journey has been quite the tour of the high-level college football landscape. He started his career at Auburn before moving on to Colorado and eventually finding his home at Tennessee. It was a path of steady progression as he clearly leveled up with each stop. He really hit his stride by staying ready for his moment, taking full advantage of opportunities created by injuries to stars like Travis Hunter and Jermod McCoy. By the time he was finally unleashed, he had turned those snaps into a promising résumé as a guy who belongs on the big stage.

Strengths

On the field, Hood brings exactly the kind of physical profile teams crave. He has good size and a long frame that he uses to his advantage. He is a very physical player who is always ready to attack the ball or the receiver. One of his best traits is his great eyes, as he stays locked in and turns around quickly to find the football. He is incredibly patient in his technique, mirroring movement effortlessly and effectively going along for the ride with his receiver.

He’s a sticky coverage guy who’s tough to evade thanks to his long strides. He can cover a lot of ground in a hurry. If a receiver does manage to get a step on him, Hood has that great make-up speed to erase the gap. He plays with the kind of confidence that makes you think he actually enjoys the stress of being on an island.

Weaknesses

Hood definitely has some areas to clean up. While he seems to embrace the opportunity to tackle, his fundamentals are a little lacking. He has a habit of lunging at legs rather than wrapping up securely. He can also get a little slappy with his hands during the route, which makes him a frequent target for penalties. If he wants to avoid a personal relationship with NFL officiating crews, he will need to refine his hand placement and stay more disciplined through the break.

The Fit

When looking at new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, Hood looks like he was built in a lab for this specific system. His diagnostic instincts allow him to read plays quickly, while his elite recovery speed acts as a safety net for the defense. Furthermore, Parker values secondary players who can support the front seven, and Hood’s run defense prowess is a rare find at his position. He would give the Cowboys a versatile tool to help execute Parker’s modern, aggressive vision.

The Final Word

Currently projected to go in the late first or early second round, Hood feels like a lock for a team looking for a reliable starting-caliber corner. For the Cowboys, he would stabilize the outside and add some much-needed talent to an ailing position group. He offers the speed to hang with speedy NFL receivers and the grit to help a struggling run defense. If the team misses out on Delane Mansoor, but they still want to snag that lockdown corner from Tennessee, don’t panic because one might fall right into their laps at pick 20, as Hood is the real McCoy.